Gordon William Wesley Chalk KBE (1913 - 1991)

Born 16 May 1913 in Rosewood, Queensland, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Ellen Clare (Grant) Chalk — married 22 May 1937 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

Died 26 Apr 1991 at age 77 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Gordon Chalk KBE is Notable.

Sir Gordon Chalk KBE LLD had an illustrious parliamentary career spanning 29 years, including terms as Minister for Transport, Treasurer and Deputy Premier. He was Premier of Queensland for one week, from 1st to 8th August 1968; the first and only Queensland Premier from the post-war Liberal Party. He was bestowed with a knighthood and an honorary degree whilst still active in parliament. Afterward, he was a sought-after company director.

Sir Gordon Chalk

Gordon Chalk KBE was born in Queensland, Australia

Sir Gordon William Wesley Chalk was born on 16th May 1913 at Rosewood, Queensland, Australia. He was a son of Samuel Chalk and Sarah Wesley.^[1] After completing his formal education at Rosewood State, Marburg Rural, and Lockyer State High schools, he commenced work as a general assistant, printer, and reporter for the Rosewood Register and Marburg Mail. He also studied accountancy at Ipswich Technical College.

In 1932 he was elected to a part-time position as secretary of the local agricultural and horticultural association; acquiring a similar position at Marburg in 1934. In 1935 he commenced work in the sales department of the Toowoomba Foundry, then the city's largest employer.

The 23 year-old Gordon Chalk married Ellen Grant on 22nd May 1937 in the Central Methodist Church (now Ipswich City Uniting Church), Ipswich, Queensland.^[2]

In 1938 Chalk was promoted to manage the Toowoomba Foundry’s Townsville branch. Declared unfit for army service due to high blood sugar levels, he remained in Townsville during the Second World War. He contributed to the business and civic life of the town, and was secretary of the local Rotary Club.

Returning to Toowoomba after the war, he was appointed sales manager at the foundry’s headquarters. For a time he was affiliated with the Queensland Country Party before accepting a nomination by the Queensland People’s Party (QPP) for the Legislative Assembly seat of East Toowoomba, which he won at the 1947 State election. In July 1949 the QPP became a division of the Liberal Party of Australia and Chalk was elevated to the shadow ministry. The following year, after an electoral redistribution, he was elected to the seat of Lockyer.^[3]

Having been Minister for Transport from 1957 to 1965, on 23rd December 1965, Chalk succeeded Sir Alan Munro as Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party, Deputy Premier and Treasurer in a coalition government with the Country Party led by Frank Nicklin. He continued in these roles when Jack Pizzey succeeded Nicklin as Premier on 17th January 1968. Following the sudden death of Pizzey on 31st July 1968, the Governor Sir Alan Mansfield swore in Chalk as Premier on 1st August, pending the Country Party electing a new leader. They chose Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who succeeded Chalk after a week in office. Chalk continued as Treasurer and Leader of the Liberal Party until his resignation from parliament in 1976.^[3]

Upon retirement for parliament, Chalk accepted directorships with Clyde Industries Ltd, Concrete Constructions (Queensland) Pty Ltd, and Birch, Carroll & Coyle Ltd; and was also involved in educational and charitable causes.^[4]

In the Queen's Birthday Honours of June 1971, Chalk was created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).^[5] He was awarded an honorary LLD by the University of Queensland in 1974.^[4]

Upon his death on 26th April 1991 in Melbourne,^[6] Chalk was accorded a State funeral which was held at Albert Street Uniting Church, Brisbane.^[3] He was survived by his wife and daughter. A son, Doctor Gregory Chalk, died following an automobile accident in 1979.

The Queensland Liberal National Party subsequently named its networking arm The Gordon Chalk Society in his memory.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Queensland Birth Index #C6610/1913
2. ↑ Queensland Marriage Index #C1811/1937
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Wikipedia profile: Gordon Chalk; accessed 14 Aug 2019
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Wear, Rae. Chalk, Gordon William (Chalkie) (1913–1991)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published online 2014; accessed online 11 Sep 2019
5. ↑ Australian Honours: KBE; accessed 11 Sep 2019
6. ↑ The Canberra Times (ACT: 1926 - 1995), Sat 27 Apr 1991, page 2

See also

• WikiTree: Australian Knights and Dames; accessed 13 Jul 2024.