Jack Ferguson

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific-prefix = The Honourable

|name = Jack Ferguson

|honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AO}}

|image = Jack Ferguson FL2723539.jpg

|imagesize =

|caption =

|constituency_AM1 = Merrylands

|assembly1 = New South Wales

|majority1 =

|term_start1 = 21 March 1959

|term_end1 = 5 February 1962

|predecessor1 = New creation

|successor1 = Seat abolished

|prior_term1 =

|constituency_AM2 = Fairfield

|assembly2 = New South Wales

|majority2 =

|term_start2 = 3 March 1962

|term_end2 = 23 January 1968

|predecessor2 = Clarrie Earl

|successor2 = Eric Bedford

|prior_term2 =

|constituency_AM3 = Merrylands

|assembly3 = New South Wales

|majority3 =

|term_start3 = 24 February 1968

|term_end3 = 5 March 1984

|predecessor3 = New creation

|successor3 = Geoff Irwin

|prior_term3 =

| order = 9th

| office = Deputy Premier of New South Wales

| premier = Neville Wran

| term_start = 14 May 1976

| term_end = 10 February 1984

| predecessor = Leon Punch

| successor = Ron Mulock

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|09|04|df=y}}

| birth_place = Zetland, New South Wales, Australia

| death_date = {{death date and age|2002|09|17|1924|09|04|df=y}}

| death_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

| party = Labor

| spouse = Mary Ellen Bett

| children = Laurie, Martin, Andrew

| occupation =

}}

Laurie John Ferguson {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} (4 September 1924 – 17 September 2002) was an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch). He served in Neville Wran's state government as the Deputy Premier of New South Wales from 1976 to 1984.

Early life

Born in the inner Sydney suburb of Zetland, Ferguson was educated at Granville Convent and Marist Brothers College, Parramatta, both Catholic schools.{{Cite web|title=Ferguson, Laurie John (Jack) (1924–2002) |first=Rodney |last=Cavalier |author-link=Rodney Cavalier |via=Obituaries Australia |url=https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/ferguson-laurie-john-jack-15934 |access-date=2021-11-03 |work=Australian |date= 18 September 2002}}

After leaving school he was variously a farmhand, textile worker, builder's labourer and bricklayer and was an organiser for the Building Workers' Industrial Union. From 1942 to 1946 he served in the Second Australian Imperial Force.

Following his demobilisation, he became active in municipal, and then state, politics. He was an alderman on Parramatta Council from 1954 to 1959, and Deputy Mayor in 1959. He married Mary Ellen Bett; the couple had three sons (Laurie, Martin and Andrew) and two daughters.{{Cite NSW Parliament |id=1840 |former=Yes |access-date=13 May 2019 |title=The Hon. (Jack) Laurie John Ferguson (1924–2002)}}

Political career

Ferguson was the member for Merrylands from March 1959 to 1962 and 1968 to 5 March 1984. From 1962 to 1968, he was member for Fairfield. A member of the Labor Party's left wing, he was best known as Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Works and Minister for Ports, from May 1976 until February 1984, in the cabinet headed by Neville Wran. He was also Minister for Housing from May 1976 to February 1977.

Death

Ferguson died in Sydney on {{death date and age|2002|09|17|1924|09|04|df=y}}, from mesothelioma according to his son Andrew.{{Cite web |url=http://workers.labor.net.au/153/news6_ferguson.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021129131551/http://workers.labor.net.au/153/news6_ferguson.html |archive-date=2002-11-29 |url-status=dead |title=Vale: Jack Ferguson |work=Workers Online - Issue 153}}

Honours

Ferguson was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to government and to the NSW parliament in the Australia Day honours in 1985.{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=884371 |date=1985-01-26 |recipient=Mr Laurie John Ferguson |award=Officer of the Order of Australia |postnominal=AO |access-date=2021-11-04}}