W. H. Everard 1917-1950 - Parliamentary Representative
James Rouget succeeded Ewen Cameron for the seat of Evelyn in 1914, but at the elections of 1917 he was defeated by William Hugh Everard. Bill Everard or "Breezy Bill" as he was often called was the first of our parliamentary representatives to be active in the electorate. He was the first to truly represent the people.
Everard was born at East Melbourne in 1869, a son of Mr. John Everard who was a member of the first Parliament of Victoria. He represented Rodney. Bill went to school at Mornington Grammar and then to Scotch College where he matriculated by passing in nine subjects. He was a keen Shakespearian scholar and in his characteristic manner had a quote for every occasion. Everard was an indefatigable man who thrived on milk for all of his eighty years and found six hours sleep sufficient. He worked at being a politician and as a result had a way of getting what he wanted.
Bill Everard made a habit of visiting fairs and local football matches. He would walk right round the grounds - stopping to talk to everyone along the way. By the end of the day, he would have made many friends and had the additional bonus of gaining a thorough knowledge of local affairs. Such a practice had its problems. On one occasion at Templestowe, he met a man he knew and in his usual breezy manner greeted him. "Hullo! Hullo! How are you, how's your father?" "The Dad died last year.", he was told. "I'm sorry to hear that. How's your mother?" Later in the day, after meeting more people than it was possible to remember, he again came across the same man. "Hullo! Hullo! How are you, how's your father?" he again greeted him. "He's still dead." was the quick reply.
Using a list of people who were ill, Everard would visit hospitals on Sundays. He never passed a school without calling in to speak to the children. Every Arbour Day and Empire Day he would visit at least two of the schools in his electorate. At first there were five and later seven. He took care to rotate around these schools. He was very keen on Arbour Day and helped to plant trees. After his death, children at the schools planted trees in his memory. Once a colleague said to him, "Why do you worry with schools, children don't vote?". Everard knew that children had parents, and after his thirty three years in office several generations of children grew up to be voters.
Soon after his election, Everard became concerned after the welfare of the fruit and berry growers in the hilly sections of his electorate. The roads were in a terrible condition, often being unpassable. He obtained two million pounds to help improve roads. One of his ideas was to have white posts at the side of the road to mark potential hazards.
Early in the 1920's, he revived the idea of kerbside markets. Four of these were organised. One was at the Kew Junction. Growers could pull their wagons up at the kerb and sell their produce direct to housewives.
In 1932 Bill Everard became Chairman of Committees and in 1934 he was appointed Speaker in the Legislative Assembly.
William Hugh Everard died in 1950. He was given a State Funeral. After a service in St. Paul's Cathedral he was cremated at Fawkner.
Bill Everard will always be remembered by Everard Drive at Warrandyte, a road built at his instigation to give work to unemployed during the 1930 depression.
1977 11 DTHS Newsletter
William Hugh Everard 1869-1950
Speaker: 1934-1937 Legislative Assembly: 1917-1950William Everard was the son of John Everard, who had been a member of the first Legislative Assembly. He was born at East Melbourne, educated at Scotch College, and became a partner in and eventually proprietor of the family firm of tea merchants, Everard Brothers.
In 1904 he married Hannah Clarissa Smith. He entered parliament as the Nationalist member of the Legislative Assembly for Evelyn in 1917, and held the seat until his death in 1950, being successively identified with the Nationalists, the Economy Party, the United Australia Party, the Liberals and the Liberal Country Party. In 1929-31 he was a member of the Committee of Public Accounts, and in 1932-34 he was chairman of committees.
In 1934 he was elected Speaker and retained the position until 1937. In 1945 he was briefly a minister in the McFarlan 'caretaker' government. He died at Kew and was survived by his five children.
https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/archive/speaker/former/everard.htm
William Everard (Australian politician)
William Hugh Everard (28 Nov 1869 – 12 April 1950), Australian politician, was a Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the Electoral district of Evelyn from 1917 until his retirement in 1950. He is the son of John Everard, who had been a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly holding non-continuous terms between 1858 and 1874.[1]Everard was educated at Mornington Grammar School and Scotch College. He was a partner and eventually proprietor of the family firm, Everard Brothers, in business as tea merchants. Everard was Chairman of the Sir Colin Mackenzie Sanctuary, Healesville, from 1949–1950, President of Old Scotch Collegians and a founder and president of Old Scotch Football Club.
Everard represented the Nationalist Party, the United Australia Party, the Liberal Party and the Liberal and Country Party while a Member of Parliament. He was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1934–1937.[2] He was Minister of Lands and Forests in the Macfarlan government from October–November 1945.[3][4]
References
http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/re-member/bioregfull.cfm?mid=357
http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/speaker/former/everard.htm
http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/re-member/bioregfull.cfm?mid=1052
Peter Aimer (1974), Politics, Power and Persuasion. The Liberals in Victoria, James Bennett, East Hawthorn, Victoria, page 121.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Everard_(Australian_politician)
William Hugh Everard [picture].
Date: [ca.1947-ca. 1960]
Description: 1 photographic print : gelatin silver ; 26 x 20 cm.
Copyright status: Copyright undetermined
Terms of use: Copyright restrictions may apply.
Identifier(s): Accession no:H93.359/45
Subjects: Everard, William Hugh, 1869-1950; Politicians -- Victoria; Victoria; Gelatin silver prints; Portrait photographs
Index terms: Victoria; ministers; Lands Department; government; politicians
Notes: Copy photograph of an original photograph ca. 1947.
Written on verso: William Hugh Everard. 2.10.1945 to 21.11.1945.
Some damage around edges.
Contents / Summary: Portrait of a man, bust, head turned slightly to left, mustache.
Source / Donor: Gift; Mr Graham Perham, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; 1993.
Is part of: In collection: [Portraits of Victorian Surveyor-Generals and Ministers for Lands]
Biographical / Historical note: William Hugh Everard (1869-1950) was born in 1869 at East Melbourne.He was Minister of Lands and of Forests between October 1945 and November 1945. He died 12 April 1950 at Kew, Victoria.
Link to online item: http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/153591
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