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Division of Swan facts for kids

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Swan
Australian House of Representatives Division
Division of Swan 2010.png
Division of Swan (green) in Western Australia
Created 1901
MP Steve Irons
Party Liberal
Namesake Swan River
Electors 95,287 (2013)
Area 126 km2 (48.6 sq mi)
Demographic Inner Metropolitan

The Division of Swan is an area in Western Australia that helps choose who represents people in the Australian Parliament. It's like a special zone where people vote for one person to be their voice in the government. This area is named after the famous Swan River.

It is one of the original 75 divisions created for Australia's very first federal election in 1901. Back then, the Division of Swan covered a much larger area, stretching across the countryside. Over time, its boundaries changed. The older, larger area became a new division called Moore. The Division of Swan then moved to its current location, closer to the city.

Today, the Division of Swan includes many suburbs. These are places like Ascot, Beckenham, Belmont, Bentley, Burswood, Cannington, Carlisle, Cloverdale, Como, East Cannington, East Victoria Park, Ferndale, Karawara, Kensington, Kewdale, Langford, Lathlain, Lynward, Manning, Queens Park, Redcliffe, Rivervale, Salter Point, St James, South Perth, Victoria Park, Waterford, Welshpool and Wilson.

Who Represents Swan?

The people who represent the Division of Swan in Parliament are called Members. They are chosen by the voters in the area. Here are some of the important people who have been the Member for Swan:

  • Sir John Forrest was the very first Member for Swan, serving from 1901 to 1918. Before that, he was even the Premier of Western Australia, which is like the leader of the state government.
  • Edwin Corboy was a Member for a short time from 1918 to 1919.
  • John Prowse represented Swan from 1919 to 1922.
  • Henry Gregory was the Member from 1922 to 1940.
  • Thomas Marwick served from 1940 to 1943.
  • Don Mountjoy was the Member from 1943 to 1946.
  • Len Hamilton represented Swan from 1946 to 1949.
  • Bill Grayden served from 1949 to 1954.
  • Harry Webb was the Member from 1954 to 1955.
  • Richard Cleaver represented Swan from 1955 to 1969.
  • Adrian Bennett served from 1969 to 1975.
  • John Martyr was the Member from 1975 to 1980.
  • Kim Beazley was a Member for Swan from 1980 to 1996. He was a very important politician, serving as a Minister in the government led by Bob Hawke. He also became the Leader of the Opposition (the main leader of the party not in power) twice, from 1996 to 2001 and again from 2005 to 2006. He was even the Deputy Prime Minister in 1995 and 1996. After leaving politics, he became Australia's Ambassador to the United States.
  • Don Randall represented Swan from 1996 to 1998.
  • Kim Wilkie served from 1998 to 2007.
  • Steve Irons has been the Member for Swan since 2007.

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