Bob Heffron

Robert James Bob Heffron , also known as R. J. Heffron, was a longserving New South Wales politician, union organiser and Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales from 1959 to 1964. Born in New Zealand, Heffron became involved in various Socialist and Labor movements in New Zealand and later Australia before joining the Australian Labor Party. Being a prominent unionist organiser, having been gaoled at one stage for conspiracy to strike action, he was eventually elected to the Parliament of New South Wales for Botany in 1930. However his disputes with party leader Jack Lang led to his expulsion from the ALP in 1936 and Heffron formed his own party from disgruntled Labor MPs known as the Industrial Labor Party. The success of his party enabled his readmission to the party and his prominence in a postLang NSW Branch which won office in 1941.

Bob Heffron was born onSeptember 1890 in Thames, New Zealand, the fifth child of Irishborn parents Michael Heffron, a blacksmith, and Ellen Heath. After spending his early education at nearby Hikutaia, Heffron left school atto work in a goldtreating plant while studying metallurgy at the Thames School of Mines. At 19, he went to California to work and to the Yukon in Canada to look for gold when this proved unsuccessful he returned to New Zealand in 1912.

Source: Wikipedia