Tom Uren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Uren
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Father of the Parliament | |
| In office 19 January 1984 – 19 February 1990 |
|
| Preceded by | Doug Anthony |
| Succeeded by | Ian Sinclair |
| Father of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 19 January 1984 – 19 February 1990 |
|
| Preceded by | Doug Anthony |
| Succeeded by | Ian Sinclair |
| Minister for Local Government and Administrative Services |
|
| In office 13 December 1984 – 24 July 1987 |
|
| Prime Minister | Bob Hawke |
| Preceded by | John Brown |
| Succeeded by | Clyde Holding (Local Government) Stewart West (Administrative Services) |
| Minister for Territories and Local Government | |
| In office 11 March 1983 – 13 December 1984 |
|
| Prime Minister | Bob Hawke |
| Preceded by | No Immediate Predecessor |
| Succeeded by | Gordon Scholes |
| Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Community Development and Regional Affairs | |
| In office 11 March 1983 – 13 December 1984 |
|
| Prime Minister | Bob Hawke |
| Preceded by | Office Established |
| Succeeded by | Office Abolished |
| Deputy Leader of the Labor Party Deputy Leader of the Opposition |
|
| In office 22 December 1975 – 22 December 1977 |
|
| Leader | Gough Whitlam |
| Preceded by | Frank Crean |
| Succeeded by | Lionel Bowen |
| Minister for Urban and Regional Development | |
| In office 19 December 1972 – 11 November 1975 |
|
| Prime Minister | Gough Whitlam |
| Preceded by | Office Established |
| Succeeded by | John Carrick |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Reid | |
| In office 22 November 1958 – 19 February 1990 |
|
| Preceded by | Charles Morgan |
| Succeeded by | Laurie Ferguson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 May 1921 Balmain, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 26 January 2015 (aged 93) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouses | Patricia, Christine Ann Logan |
| Occupation | Boxer, soldier |
Thomas Uren (born May 28, 1921 – died January 26, 2015) was an important Australian politician. He was the Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party from 1975 to 1977. Uren served as a Member of Parliament for the area of Reid in the Australian House of Representatives for a long time, from 1958 to 1990.
During his career, he held several important government jobs. He was the Minister for Urban and Regional Development (1972–75), Minister for Territories and Local Government (1983–84), and Minister for Local Government and Administrative Services (1984–87). Thomas Uren was also very important in starting the movement to protect Australia's history and natural places. He especially worked hard to save the historic areas of inner Sydney.
Early Life and Military Service
Growing Up in Sydney
Thomas Uren was born in Balmain, a working-class part of Sydney. He went to Manly High School. His family came from Cornwall in England. When he was young, Uren played rugby league for Manly Warringah. He was also a very good swimmer.
Boxing Career
Before becoming a politician, Uren was a professional boxer. He even competed for the Australian heavyweight boxing championship against Billy Britt.
World War II Experience
In 1941, Uren joined the Australian Army. He volunteered for the Second Australian Imperial Force and served in the 2/1st Heavy Battery. He was sent to Timor and became a prisoner of the Japanese from 1942 to 1945. During this time, he was forced to work on the difficult Burma Railway. He also served with a famous Australian doctor, Edward "Weary" Dunlop.
Later, Uren was moved to Japan. He saw the sky turn red from far away, which was caused by the US atomic bomb exploding on Nagasaki. He left the army in December 1945 as a Bombardier.
Life After the War
After the war, Uren tried to restart his boxing career. He even traveled to England. When he returned, he worked as a manager for Woolworths in Lithgow. It was after attending the funeral of former Prime Minister Ben Chifley that Uren was inspired to join the Australian Labor Party.
Uren and his wife Patricia moved to Guildford in Sydney in the late 1940s. They opened two small shops to help them become financially independent. This allowed Uren to focus on his goal of becoming a politician.
Political Career and Achievements
Entering Parliament
In 1957, Thomas Uren was chosen by the Labor Party to run for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Reid. He won the election in 1958. He represented this area in western Sydney for 32 years, until he retired in 1990.
Key Beliefs and Campaigns
Uren was a strong supporter of the left wing of the Labor Party. He was known for his strong beliefs. He actively campaigned against the Vietnam War, against forcing young people into the army (called conscription), and against nuclear testing.
Minister for Urban and Regional Development
In 1969, Gough Whitlam, who later became Prime Minister, gave Uren the job of looking after housing and urban affairs for the Labor Party. This became Uren's main focus. From 1972 to 1975, he was the Minister for Urban and Regional Development in the Whitlam government.
He helped create the Australian Heritage Commission. This group made a list of important historical and natural places in Australia. In Sydney, Uren worked to restore old inner-city areas like the Glebe Estate and Woolloomooloo. He also helped clean up Duck Creek and create the Chipping Norton Lakes Scheme. He was also very important in creating the Towra Point Nature Reserve.
Deputy Leader and Later Roles
In 1976, Uren was elected Deputy Leader of the Labor Party. He served under Gough Whitlam, who was the Opposition Leader at the time. After the 1977 election, Uren was replaced by Lionel Bowen when Bill Hayden became the new Labor Leader.
When the Hawke government won the 1983 election, Uren was given a less senior role. He became the Minister for Territories and Local Government. From 1984 to 1987, he was the Minister for Local Government and Administrative Services. In 1984, he became the Father of the Australian House of Representatives, which means he was the longest-serving member of the House.
Uren left his government job after the 1987 election and retired from Parliament in 1990. He and Clarrie Millar were the last politicians in the House of Representatives who had fought in World War II.
Continued Activism
Even after retiring, Uren continued to support various causes. He worked to protect Sydney Harbour and its beautiful foreshores. He also spoke out against Australia's involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Honours and Legacy
Thomas Uren received several important awards for his service to Australia.
- In 1993, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.
- In 2001, he received the Centenary Medal.
- In 2013, he was given the highest honour, becoming a Companion of the Order of Australia.
There is a park in West Guildford, Sydney, named "Tom Uren Park" in his memory.
Uren had a big influence on Anthony Albanese, who became the Prime Minister of Australia in 2022. Albanese has said that Uren was like a father figure to him.
Death
Thomas Uren passed away on January 26, 2015, at the age of 93.
