John Crook

Who was John Crook?

John Crook was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1949 to 1959. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party.

Neilly was born in Korumburra. He was the son of a miner and was educated to elementary level at Kurri Kurri Public School. At age 13 he became a coal miner and worked mainly at Richmond Main Colliery. He was an office-holder in the Miners' Federation and was general secretary of the Northern Lodge of the union from 1934 to 1949.

He won ALP pre-selection for the seat of Cessnock at a 1949 by-election caused by the resignation of Jack Baddeley to accept a position with the New South Wales State Coal Authority. He won the by-election and subsequent elections in 1950, 1953 and 1956. He did not contest the 1959 election and was succeeded by George Neilly.