Oscar Oates

Edgar Alfred "Oscar" Oates (1 November 1889 – 2 September 1951[1]) was an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1933 until his death.

He was born at Kangaroo Flat, 5 km north of Gawler, and was educated at the Gawler school, before working as a wharf labourer at Port Adelaide. He was a member of the Waterside Workers Federation from 1916 to the day he died, and served as president of its Port Adelaide branch and on its state executive. He was a fierce union rival of future independent MP Thomas Thompson, ousting Thompson as branch president and expelling him from the union.[2][3][4][5][6] He was also president of the SA Public Schools Committees' Association and president of the state executive of the Working Men's Association.[7][8][4]

He was elected for Labor in 1933 to the Legislative Council for the Central No. 1 district, with a substantial support from preferences.[9]

During his term of office he made three attempts to introduce a State lottery, and was about to make a fourth on the week he died. He also made considerable attempts to have a new hospital built in the Port Adelaide area. He was a member of the Parliamentary Land Settlement Committee, and Libraries and Printing Committees.[10]

He died suddenly at his Rosewater home in 1951 while still in office; he had been scheduled to be the main speaker at a Labor rally later that day.[10] He was buried at Cheltenham Cemetery, and the Waterside Workers' Federation donated a new pulpit for Dale Street Central Mission Church in his honour.[11][12]

He was married to Ada Grace; they had a son, Alfred J. G. Oates of Rosewater and a daughter Joan, Mrs. A McDonald of Rosewater Gardens. They lived at 38 Junction road. Rosewater.

References
  1. "Hon E. A. Oates". Parliament of South Australia. 2011. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2011. This ref contradicts age 63 given in Death Notices.
  2. "Sudden Death Of Mr. E. A. Oates. M.L.C." The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 3 September 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  3. "WATERSIDE WORKERS". The News. VII (1, 001). South Australia. 28 September 1926. p. 8 (HOME EDITION). Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "STATE ELECTIONS WHO'S WHO IN FIGHT FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT No. 1". The News. XX (3, 018). South Australia. 21 March 1933. p. 7. Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "WATERSIDE WORKERS' PICNIC AT GAWLER". The Bunyip (4, 071). South Australia. 11 February 1927. p. 9. Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "EXPELLED FROM UNION". The News. VIII (1, 191). South Australia. 10 May 1927. p. 1 (HOME EDITION). Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Letters to Editor". The News. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 5 September 1951. p. 13. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  8. "OFFENDED HIS UNION". The News. VIII (1, 169). South Australia. 13 April 1927. p. 1 (HOME EDITION). Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Majority of 12 on Re-count". The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 14 April 1933. p. 9. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  10. "Sudden Death Of Mr. E. A. Oates. M.L.C." The Advertiser (Adelaide). 94 (28, 984). South Australia. 3 September 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Parliamentary Tribute To Mr. Oates". The Advertiser (Adelaide). 94 (28, 985). South Australia. 4 September 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Watersiders' Gift Praised". The Advertiser (Adelaide). 94 (29, 048). South Australia. 16 November 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 21 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
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