George Lawson

Who was George Lawson?

George Lawson was an Australian trade union official and politician.

Lawson was born in South Pine River, near Caboolture, Queensland and educated at Warner State School. He fought in the Boer War South Africa with the 5th Contingent in 1901–02 and was mentioned in dispatches. He married Rebecca Jane Buchanan in 1907 and they had two sons but she died in 1918. In 1907, he helped founded the Brisbane Trolleymen, Draymen and Carter's Union and was elected its secretary in 1908. The union later became the Carters and Drivers' Union and in 1912 he was elected its general secretary, a position he held for almost twenty years. He was president of the Trades and Labour Council of Queensland in 1924 and 1927.