Arthur Gietzelt

The Honourable
Arthur Gietzelt
AO
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
In office
11 March 1983  24 July 1987
Prime Minister Bob Hawke
Preceded by Tony Messner
Succeeded by Ben Humphreys
Senator for New South Wales
In office
1 July 1971  27 February 1989
Succeeded by John Faulkner
Personal details
Born (1920-12-28)28 December 1920
San Francisco, California, United States
Died 5 January 2014(2014-01-05) (aged 93)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s) Dawn Gietzelt
Relations Ray Gietzelt (brother)
Military service
Allegiance  Australia
Service/branch Australian Army
Years of service 1941–1946
Rank Sergeant
Unit Royal Australian Engineers

Arthur Thomas Gietzelt, AO (28 December 1920 – 5 January 2014) was an Australian politician and minister.

Gietzelt was born in San Francisco,[1] and educated at Hurstville High School in south-western Sydney. He served in the armed forces in New Guinea during World War II from 1941 to 1945[2][3] along with his younger brother Ray Gietzelt.[4]

Later, Gietzelt served 15 years (1956–1971) in local government as a councillor of Sutherland Shire Council; for nine of those years he was shire president or mayor. As part of the council, he opposed the creation of a second Sydney airport at Towra Point.[5] He was elected as a Senator for New South Wales at the 1970 Senate election.

In 1976 Gietzelt joined Jim Cairns, Barry Egan and Bridget Gilling as a member of the Tribunal on Homosexuals and Discrimination. He was appointed Minister for Veterans' Affairs in March 1983 in the first Hawke Ministry and held that position until July 1987. He was a joint Father of the Senate from 1987 until his departure from parliament. He resigned from the Senate in February 1989.[6]

Gietzelt was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1992 for "service to the Australian Parliament and to local government".[7]

Gietzelt died on 5 January 2014, aged 93.[8]

References

  1. Biography for GIETZELT, the Hon. Arthur Thomas, AO, ParlInfo.
  2. Who's who in Australia. North Melbourne: Crown Content. 2008. p. 2303. ISBN 1-74095-160-3.
  3. GIETZELT, ARTHUR THOMAS, WW2 Nominal Roll, 2002.
  4. NSW Parliament, The Hon Lynda Voltz, Tribute to Ray Gietzelt, 23 October 2012
  5. http://www.smh.com.au/comment/obituaries/arthur-gietzelts-left-leanings-held-fast-in-political-life-20140202-31uw1.html
  6. "Members of the Senate since 1901". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  7. "Gietzelt, Arthur Thomas". It's an Honour. Government of Australia. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  8. "Shire stalwart Arthur Gietzelt dies at 93". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
Political offices
Preceded by
Tony Messner
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
1983–87
Succeeded by
Ben Humphreys
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Doug McClelland
Father of the Australian Senate
1987–1989
with Peter Durack
Succeeded by
Peter Durack


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