John Jess

John Jess
Member of the Australian Parliament
for La Trobe
In office
9 April 1960 – 2 December 1972
Preceded byRichard Casey
Succeeded byTony Lamb
Personal details
Born
John David Jess

(1922-04-15)15 April 1922
Melbourne, Victoria
Died18 October 2003(2003-10-18) (aged 81)
Geelong, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal Party of Australia
SpouseHelen Joy Smart
ChildrenDavid Carl, James Carl, Elizabeth Evelyn
OccupationParliamentarian

John David Jess, CBE (15 April 1922 – 18 October 2003) was an Australian politician.

Born in Melbourne, he was the son of Sir Carl Jess and Marjory Mary Jess (née McGibbon). Educated at Melbourne Grammar School, he was a lieutenant in the Citizens Military Force during the Second World War, serving in Melbourne and Queensland, before becoming an estate agent. He was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in a 1960 by-election for the seat of La Trobe, representing the Liberal Party.[1] He held the seat until his defeat in 1972. He was instrumental in bringing about the second Royal Commission into the MelbourneVoyager ship collision in 1964. He was known throughout his 12-year career in politics as the "Seeker of Justice" for his efforts in fighting for issues of justice.[2] Jess died in 2003.[3]

  1. ^ Burns, Creighton (1961). Parties and People. A Survey Based on the La Trobe Electorate. Parkville (VIC): Melbourne UP.
  2. ^ McCarthy, E (2015). John Jess Seeker of Justice the Role of the Parliament in the HMAS Voyager Tragedy".
  3. ^ Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Archived from the original on 17 July 2007.