# Jack Ferguson

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ferguson
> Source revision: 1346088573
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{{Short description|Australian politician (1924–2002)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific_prefix = [The Honourable](/source/The_Honourable)
|name             = Jack Ferguson
|honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AO}}
|image            = Jack Ferguson FL2723539.jpg
|image_size       = 
|caption          = 
|constituency_AM1 = [Merrylands](/source/Electoral_district_of_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](/source/Electoral_district_of_Fairfield)
|assembly2        = New South Wales
|majority2        = 
|term_start2      = 3 March 1962
|term_end2        = 23 January 1968
|predecessor2     = [Clarrie Earl](/source/Clarrie_Earl)
|successor2       = [Eric Bedford](/source/Eric_Bedford)
|prior_term2      = 
|constituency_AM3 = [Merrylands](/source/Electoral_district_of_Merrylands)
|assembly3        = New South Wales
|majority3        = 
|term_start3      = 24 February 1968
|term_end3        = 5 March 1984
|predecessor3     = New creation
|successor3       = [Geoff Irwin](/source/Geoff_Irwin)
|prior_term3      = 
|order            = 9th
|office           = Deputy Premier of New South Wales
|premier          = [Neville Wran](/source/Neville_Wran)
|term_start       = 14 May 1976
|term_end         = 10 February 1984
|predecessor      = [Leon Punch](/source/Leon_Punch)
|successor        = [Ron Mulock](/source/Ron_Mulock)
|birth_date       = {{Birth date|1924|09|04|df=y}}
|birth_place      = [Zetland](/source/Zetland%2C_New_South_Wales), [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales), [Australia](/source/Australia)
|death_date       = {{death date and age|2002|09|17|1924|09|04|df=y}}
|death_place      = [Sydney](/source/Sydney), New South Wales, Australia
|party            = [Labor](/source/Australian_Labor_Party_(New_South_Wales_Branch))
|spouse           = Mary Ellen Bett
|children         = [Laurie](/source/Laurie_Ferguson), [Martin](/source/Martin_Ferguson_(politician)), 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](/source/New_South_Wales_Legislative_Assembly) for the [Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)](/source/Australian_Labor_Party_(New_South_Wales_Branch)). He served in  [Neville Wran](/source/Neville_Wran)'s state government as the [Deputy Premier of New South Wales](/source/Deputy_Premier_of_New_South_Wales) from 1976 to 1984.<ref name="nsw" />

==Early life==
Born in the inner Sydney suburb of [Zetland](/source/Zetland%2C_New_South_Wales), Ferguson was educated at [Granville](/source/Granville%2C_New_South_Wales) Convent and Marist Brothers College, [Parramatta](/source/Parramatta%2C_New_South_Wales), both Catholic schools.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref>

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](/source/Building_Workers'_Industrial_Union).  From 1942 to 1946 he served in the [Second Australian Imperial Force](/source/Second_Australian_Imperial_Force).<ref name=":0" />

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

==Political career==
Ferguson was the member for [Merrylands](/source/Electoral_district_of_Merrylands) from March 1959 to 1962 and 1968 to 5 March 1984.  From 1962 to 1968, he was member for [Fairfield](/source/Electoral_district_of_Fairfield). A member of the [Labor Party](/source/Australian_Labor_Party_(New_South_Wales_Branch))'s left wing, he was best known as [Deputy Premier](/source/Deputy_Premier_of_New_South_Wales) and [Minister for Public Works](/source/Minister_for_Public_Works_(New_South_Wales)) and [Minister for Ports](/source/Minister_for_Ports_(New_South_Wales)), from May 1976 until February 1984, in the cabinet headed by Neville Wran. He was also [Minister for Housing](/source/Minister_for_Housing_(New_South_Wales)) from May 1976 to February 1977.<ref name=nsw/>

==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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Honours==
Ferguson was made an [Officer of the Order of Australia](/source/Officer_of_the_Order_of_Australia) for his service to government and to the NSW parliament in the Australia Day honours in 1985.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|au-nsw-la}}
{{S-new|district
}}
{{S-ttl
| title = [Member for Merrylands](/source/Electoral_district_of_Merrylands)
| years = 1959–1962
}}
{{S-non
| reason = Seat abolished
}}
{{succession box
| title = [Member for Fairfield](/source/Electoral_district_of_Fairfield)
| before = [Clarrie Earl](/source/Clarrie_Earl)
| after = [Eric Bedford](/source/Eric_Bedford)
| years = 1962–1968
}}
{{S-new|district
}}
{{S-ttl
| title = [Member for Merrylands](/source/Electoral_district_of_Merrylands)
| years = 1968–1984
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [Geoff Irwin](/source/Geoff_Irwin)
}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef
| before = [Syd Einfeld](/source/Syd_Einfeld)
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [Deputy Leader of the Opposition<br/>of New South Wales](/source/Leader_of_the_Opposition_(New_South_Wales))|
| years = 1973–1976
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [John Maddison](/source/John_Maddison)
}}
{{s-bef
| rows = 3
| before = [Leon Punch](/source/Leon_Punch)
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [Deputy Premier of New South Wales](/source/Deputy_Premier_of_New_South_Wales)
| years = 1976–1984
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [Ron Mulock](/source/Ron_Mulock)
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [Minister for Public Works](/source/Minister_for_Public_Works_(New_South_Wales))
| years = 1976–1984
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [Laurie Brereton](/source/Laurie_Brereton)
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [Minister for Ports](/source/Minister_for_Ports_(New_South_Wales))
| years = 1976–1984
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [Lin Gordon](/source/Lin_Gordon)
}}
{{succession box
| title = [Minister for Housing](/source/Minister_for_Housing_(New_South_Wales))
| years = 1976–1977
| before = [Ian Griffith](/source/Ian_Griffith)
| after = [Ron Mulock](/source/Ron_Mulock)
}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef
| before = [Syd Einfeld](/source/Syd_Einfeld)
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party<br/> in New South Wales](/source/Deputy_Leader_of_the_Australian_Labor_Party_in_New_South_Wales)|
| years = 1973–1984
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [Ron Mulock](/source/Ron_Mulock)
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Labor Party (NSW)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferguson, Laurie John}}
Category:1924 births
Category:2002 deaths
Category:Australian Army soldiers
Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales
Category:Australian Army personnel of World War II
Category:Deputy premiers of New South Wales
Category:Deaths from cancer in New South Wales
Category:Labor Left politicians
Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Category:Officers of the Order of Australia
Category:Politicians from Sydney
Category:20th-century Australian politicians
Category:Deaths from mesothelioma in Australia
Category:People educated at Parramatta Marist High School

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jack Ferguson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ferguson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ferguson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.