Bill Eaton (politician)

Andrew George "Bill" Eaton (29 November 1931 – 22 May 2011) was an Australian politician.

Bill Eaton
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Mourilyan
In office 29 November 1980 – 19 September 1992
Preceded by	Vicky Kippin
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	Andrew George Eaton 29 November 1931 Gilgandra, New South Wales, Australia
Died	22 May 2011 (aged 79) Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Labor
Spouse(s)	Shirley Daw Boothman
Occupation	Linesman

Early life

Eaton was born in Gilgandra in New South Wales to Cyril Allan Dudley Eaton and Mary Catherine, née O'Donohue. He attended Dobies Bight State School and St Mary's Convent in Casino. In 1931 he married Shirley Daw Boothman; they would have four children, but Shirley died of leukaemia shortly after their fourth child's birth. Eaton worked as a labourer, fencer, timber cutter, stationhand and machinery operator, and from 1963 he was the leading hand of a live-line gang with the Far North Queensland Electricity Board.[1]

Politics

In 1980, Eaton was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly as the Labor member for Mourilyan. In 1983 he was promoted to the front bench as Opposition Spokesman for Water Resources and Maritime Services, and upon Labor's victory in 1989 he became Minister for Land Management.[1] His seat was abolished in 1992 and largely merged with the neighbouring National-held seat of Hinchinbrook. The merged seat was notionally Labor-held, but Eaton lost a close contest to National's Marc Rowell.[2]

Later life

Eaton died in 2011 in Cairns.[1]

References

1. Queensland Parliament (2012). "Eaton, Andrew George (Bill)". Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
2. Green, Antony (8 April 2009). "Hinchinbrook". 2009 Queensland State Election. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 April 2019.