George Whiteside

Who was George Whiteside?

George Irvine Whiteside was an Australian politician.

Born in Victoria, he was educated at state schools before moving to Queensland to become a railway worker. He was Queensland Secretary of the Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen's Association 1945-1962 and President of the Queensland Labor Party 1959-1960.

On 9 October 1962, he was appointed to the Australian Senate as a Labor Senator for Queensland, filling the casual vacancy caused by the death of Labor Senator Max Poulter. The Australian Constitution dictated that a special election be held at the same time as the next federal election in 1963. Whiteside was narrowly defeated by Liberal candidate Kenneth Morris. Whiteside died in 1976.