Andrew Fisher
He then lived in Gympie, working in the gold mines and becoming a vital part of the community until he moved to Melbourne some time after 1901. He married a Gympie girl – his landlady’s daughter, Margaret Irvine. The couple had six children in twelve years and Margaret’s mother and unmarried sisters of Gympie joined them in Melbourne to help out. As State member for Gympie, Fisher campaigned hard for Federation, seeing it as the bedrock of national identity and development. He was elected Prime Minister from 1908-1909, 1910-1913 and 1914-1915. His government introduced the Commonwealth Bank, worker’s compensation, maternity allowance and Australian banknotes. Fisher, a dedicated labor man, stuck to his principles although they did not always make him friends. Showing signs that the stresses and strains of his extremely demanding political offices were taking their toll, he resigned on 30 October 1915. He was then appointed High Commissioner for Australia in London. He died in Britain in 1928. Timelines |
