Preceded by Charles Brown Political party Queensland Labor Party Occupation Bush worker | Succeeded by Wally Rae Other political
affiliations Australian Labor Party Party Queensland Labor Party | |
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Full Name George Henry Devries Born 4 July 1896
Stretford, England ( 1896-07-04 ) Spouse(s) Bridget Ellen Hillery (m.1920) Died 13 July 1957, Winton, Australia | ||
George Henry Devries (4 July 1896 - 13 July 1957) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
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Biography
Devries was born at Stretford, England, the son of John Arms Devries and his wife Elizabeth (née Ware). He was apprenticed as a midshipman in 1911 and spent four years at sea before joining his parents at Bushley, near Rockhampton. In 1916 he joined the First Australian Imperial Force, serving with the 15th Battalion in France and Belgium. In July 1917 he suffered a self-administered gunshot wound to the knee. He was discharged with the rank of Lance Corporal in 1919. Once back in civilian life he held several jobs as a bushworker in the Longreach area before starting work with the Australian Workers' Union in 1925, first as a clerk and eventually as the Secretary of the Western District from 1929 until 1941.
On the 16th December 1920 he married Bridget Ellen Hillery and together had two sons and two daughters. Devries died of a heart attack in Winton while campaigning for the 1957 Queensland state election.
Public career
Devries, a member of the Australian Labor Party, won the seat of Gregory at the 1941 Queensland state election. He defeated the sitting member Charles Brown. He went on to represent the electorate for the next 16 years before dying in office in 1957.
When the Premier, Vince Gair, was expelled from the Labor Party in 1957, he, and most of his ministry (including Devries) formed the Queensland Labor Party. During his political career, Devries held three ministerial portfolios:
Devries was a champion boxer and had a reputation for his charity and philanthropy, especially during the depression years.