Premier of Queensland 1952-1957 and Ambassador to Ireland. Vince Gair was born in Rockhampton, the eight child of John Alexander Gair and Catherine Mary Gair.He was educated at Leichhardt State School and St Joseph's Christians Brothers. He started his working life at the Qld Railways in 1916 and in the same year his family moved to Brisbane. After 16 years with the railways he stood for, and won, the state seat of South Brisbane in 1932. After serving 10 years on the back benches he was appointed Chairman of Committees in 1941. when Premier Ned Hanlon died in 1952 Vince Gair took over the role. His 5 years in the job were highly controversial and it culminated in his expulsion from the Labor Party in 1957. With all bar one of his ministry following him, he formed the Qld Labor Party and tried to forge a deal with the Frank Nicklin led Country Party. This failed and as a consequence his government fell. The subsequent state election in August 1957 saw the Country/Liberal Party coalition winning power. Gair went on to become a Qld Senator in the federal parliament representing the Democratic Labor Party (DLP). He held this position till he was surprisingly offered the role of Australia's Ambassador to Ireland in 1974 by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. This was done in the hope of Whitlam's Labor government winning an additional seat at the next senate election. This was thrawted though by Joh Bjelke-Petersen in a manouvre that became known as the "Night of the long prawns". Gair only lasted 2 years before being recalled by the Fraser government. Vince Gair enjoyed a short retirement before dying in November 1980. He was accorded a state funeral and was buried at Nudgee Catholic Cemetery.
Premier of Queensland 1952-1957 and Ambassador to Ireland. Vince Gair was born in Rockhampton, the eight child of John Alexander Gair and Catherine Mary Gair.He was educated at Leichhardt State School and St Joseph's Christians Brothers. He started his working life at the Qld Railways in 1916 and in the same year his family moved to Brisbane. After 16 years with the railways he stood for, and won, the state seat of South Brisbane in 1932. After serving 10 years on the back benches he was appointed Chairman of Committees in 1941. when Premier Ned Hanlon died in 1952 Vince Gair took over the role. His 5 years in the job were highly controversial and it culminated in his expulsion from the Labor Party in 1957. With all bar one of his ministry following him, he formed the Qld Labor Party and tried to forge a deal with the Frank Nicklin led Country Party. This failed and as a consequence his government fell. The subsequent state election in August 1957 saw the Country/Liberal Party coalition winning power. Gair went on to become a Qld Senator in the federal parliament representing the Democratic Labor Party (DLP). He held this position till he was surprisingly offered the role of Australia's Ambassador to Ireland in 1974 by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. This was done in the hope of Whitlam's Labor government winning an additional seat at the next senate election. This was thrawted though by Joh Bjelke-Petersen in a manouvre that became known as the "Night of the long prawns". Gair only lasted 2 years before being recalled by the Fraser government. Vince Gair enjoyed a short retirement before dying in November 1980. He was accorded a state funeral and was buried at Nudgee Catholic Cemetery.
Bio by: RocketRod1960
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