George Keyatta

George Keyatta (20 December 1895 – 25 August 1962) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

George Keyatta
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Townsville
In office
27 May 1939 – 28 May 1960
Preceded byMaurice Hynes
Succeeded bySeat abolished
Personal details
Born
George Keyatta

(1895-12-20)20 December 1895
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Died25 August 1962(1962-08-25) (aged 66)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political partyLabor
Spouse(s)Emily Mary McMenamin (m.1947 d.1992)
OccupationWharf labourer

Biography

Keyatta was born in Townsville, Queensland, the son of Gabriel Annick Keyatta and his wife Annie (née Sorotti) and was educated at Townsville West State School and St Mary's Convent School. Upon leaving school he was a painter and wharf labourer.

In 1947 he married Emily Mary McMenamin. Keyatta died in August 1962.

Public career

Keyatta was an alderman with the Townsville City Council from 1929 to 1935. When the member for Townsville, Maurice Hynes died in March 1939, Keyatta, representing the Labor Party, won the resulting by-election,[2] defeating his three opponents, all of them being barristers.[3] He went on to represent the electorate until the 1960 Queensland state election when he retired from politics on medical advice.[3]

As well being the state member for Townsville, Keyatta sat on several other boards. He was a member of the Townsville Harbour Board from 1935 to 1960, the Agricultural, Pastoral and Industrial Association since 1928, and the Townsville Sports Ground Reserve Committee. He was a life-member of the Townsville Rugby Football League and the Townsville branch of the ANA. Keyatta was also the vice-president of the Queensland branch of the Australia-Russia Association from 1941 to 1944. Keyatta Park in Townsville was named in his honour.[1]

References
  1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  2. "LABOR WINS". Townsville Daily Bulletin. LXI (127). Queensland, Australia. 29 May 1939. p. 5. Retrieved 18 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. Motion of Condolence — Hansard. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by
Maurice Hynes		 Member for Townsville
1939–1960		 Abolished
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.