Born in Atherton, Queensland, he was educated at state schools before becoming a farm labourer and forestry worker.

This followed moves by the Queensland Government to hand over control of Palm Island to Townsville Council.

The government ran a counter-petition, which, it was reported, carried forgeries and duplication of names; both petitions contained many of the same people's signatures.

[3] On 15 May, he was found dead by his son when his returning train pulled into the station in Townsville.

This article about an Australian Labor Party member of the Senate is a stub.