Frank Waters (politician)

Waters was born in Hastings, New Zealand, the son of John Thomas Waters and his wife Margaret (née McGrath). His education began at St Patrick's Convent in Auckland and in 1916 he left New Zealand and carried on his schooling at St Mary's Convent in New South Wales before finishing his education in Queensland at South Johnstone, Selwyn, and Kuridala State Schools. On leaving school he became a telegraph messenger, working for the PMG from 1922 to 1932 and then was a canvasser for new telephone subscribers.[1]

He served in the World War Two, joining the Australian Military Forces in 1942 and rising to the rank of Sergeant in the Queensland Echelon and Records Section of Army Records.[1]

On 24 June 1930, Waters married Jessie Kate Robertson and together had two sons and one daughter. In 1985 he was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia medal for service to the trade union movement. Waters died in September 1990[1] and was cremated at Albany Creek Crematiorium.[2]

Waters held many roles in the Amalgamated Postal Workers Union (Queensland branch) and the Queensland trade union movement both before and after his time in the Queensland Parliament.[1]

As the Labor candidate for the seat of Kelvin Grove, Waters won the seat of Kelvin Grove, easily defeating the sitting member, Richard Hill.[3] He held Kelvin Grove for 6 years before losing in 1938 to the only Protestant Labor Party member to sit in the Queensland Parliament, George Morris.[4]

In 1941, after several well-publicised clashes with Premier Forgan Smith, Waters lost endorsement for the seat of Kelvin Grove. The following year he was stripped of his party membership over a row involving his stance on medical aid to Russia. His membership was not restored until 1957. The Frank Waters Park, located in Ashgrove, was named in his honour.[1]