Wallace Nelson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wallace Alexander Nelson (1856-1943) was the first member to represent Hannans under the Redistribution of Seats Bill in the Legislative Assembly in Western Australia from 1904 to 1905. He was described as the wit and humorist of the Labor Party in those days, having much experience at oration and writing.
Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, Nelson had been ordered to relocate to a warmer climate by his doctor in Sheffield, England the 1880s, and subsequently immigrated to Brisbane and then Rockhampton (where he had unsuccessfully contested the Federal Seat of Capricornia in 1901, won by Alexander Paterson), before moving to Kalgoorlie.
In Kalgoorlie, he was editor of the Westralian Worker until December 1902, then the Kalgoorlie Sun and Figaro.
After his stint in parliament he moved to Perth, where he edited the Perth Democrat, was leader writer for the Daily News and contributed to the literary journal Leeuwin.
After 2 years in England, he moved to Sydney in 1916 where he edited the Australasian Worker until a few months before his death in 1943.
[edit] References
- Raeside J (1996). Golden Days: being Memoirs & Reminiscences of the Goldfields of Western Australia. Hesperian Press. ISBN 0-85905-204-4.
- Black D & Bolton G (1990). Biographical Register of Members of Parliament of Western Australia, Vol. 1 1870-1930. Western Australian Parliamentary History Project. ISBN 0-7316-9782-0.
