Simon Hickey (politician)

Simon Hickey (6 June 1878 – 18 May 1958) was an Australian politician.

Simon Hickey (1878-1958) NSW politician, c1927

He was born at Botobolar near Mudgee to agricultural labourer Patrick Hickey, an Irish-American, and Mary, née Swift. His family moved to Menah in 1882 and to Auburn in 1890. Hickey received a primary education but at the age of thirteen left school to work as a drayman's assistant, eventually being apprenticed to a Mudgee saddler in 1893. He worked in Sydney for the saddler's firm, which failed. In 1911 he married Hilda Ellen Dacey, daughter of Labor MP John Dacey.[1]

In 1912 he entered the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the Labor member for Alexandria; he moved to the multi-member seat of Botany in 1920. On 13 December 1921 he was elected Speaker, but eight days later the Dooley Labor Government fell and Hickey was ousted. His term remains the shortest in the history of the Assembly. He was defeated in 1922 but in 1925 was given a life appointment to the New South Wales Legislative Council, which he held until the Council's reconstitution in 1934.

Hickey's memoir, Travelled Roads, was published in 1951.[2]

Hickey died in 1958 at Bellevue Hill.[3]

His son was Sir Justin Hickey.

References

1. "Social Items". Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932). 30 March 1911. p. 29. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
2. "Reading Guide". Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954). 29 December 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
3. "Mr Simon Hickey (1878–1958)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 June 2019.

 

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Daniel Levy	Speaker 1921	Succeeded by Daniel Levy
Preceded by John Dacey	Member for Alexandria 1912–1920	Abolished
Preceded by Thomas Mutch	Member for Botany 1920–1922 Served alongside: Burke, Lee, McKell, Mutch	Succeeded by Bill Ratcliffe