Ernest Wetherell

The Honourable
Ernest Wetherell
Minister for Education
In office
31 May 1960  13 May 1965
Premier Robert Heffron
Jack Renshaw
Preceded by Robert Heffron
Succeeded by Charles Cutler
Minister for Transport
In office
16 September 1953  15 March 1956
Premier Joseph Cahill
Preceded by Clarrie Martin
Succeeded by George Enticknap
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Cobar
In office
12 March 1949  31 March 1965
Preceded by Mat Davidson
Succeeded by Lew Johnstone
Personal details
Born (1893-03-26)26 March 1893
near Mount Egerton, Colony of Victoria
Died 31 March 1969(1969-03-31) (aged 76)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political party Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s) Florence Scott
Children William, Maureen and Thomas
Occupation Miner, unionist, journalist

Ernest "Ern" Wetherell (26 March 1893 – 31 March 1969) was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1949 until 1965. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party and held numerous ministerial positions between 1953 and 1962.

Early life

Wetherell was born in the gold rush town of Mount Egerton, Victoria and was the son of a miner. His father and an elder brother died in mining accidents by the time he was 14. He was educated to elementary level at catholic schools and initially worked in a gold battery at Ballarat. He arrived in Broken Hill in 1911 and worked as a miner until the Australian General Strike of 1917. He later worked as a journalist and editor on left wing newspapers.

State Parliament

After an unsuccessful attempt to win the seat of Sturt as an independent at the 1922 state election. Wetherell became active within the Labor Party and was elected to the parliament as the member for Cobar at the 1949 by-election caused by the death of the sitting Labor member Mat Davidson. He retained the seat at the next 5 elections and retired at the 1965 election.

Government

Wetherell was a member of the governments of Joseph Cahill, Robert Heffron and Jack Renshaw. He was appointed as Minister for Transport in 1953 and between 1956 and 1960 was the Minister for Conservation. From 1960 until his retirement he was the Minister for Education. During his tenure the education reforms known as the Wyndham Scheme were planned, which included an expansion of secondary education from 5 to 6 years and the replacement of the Leaving Certificate by the Higher School Certificate.

References

Parliament of New South Wales
Preceded by
Mat Davidson
Member for Cobar
1949  1965
Succeeded by
Lew Johnstone
Political offices
Preceded by
Clarrie Martin
Minister for Transport
1953  1956
Succeeded by
George Enticknap
Preceded by
George Enticknap
Minister for Conservation
1956  1960
Succeeded by
George Enticknap
Preceded by
Robert Heffron
Minister for Education
1960  1965
Succeeded by
Charles Cutler
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