Reg Groom

Sir Reginald Groom

Reg Groom in his Lord Mayoral robes - 1955
6th Lord Mayor of Brisbane
In office
1955–1961
Preceded by Frank Roberts
Succeeded by Clem Jones
Personal details
Born Thomas Reginald Groom
(1906-12-30)30 December 1906
Teneriffe, Queensland, Australia
Died 28 June 1987(1987-06-28) (aged 80)
Guyra, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality Australian
Political party Citizens' Municipal Organisation
Spouse(s) Jessie Mary Grace Butcher (m.1932)
Occupation Accountant, Businessman

Sir Thomas Reginald Groom (1906–1987) was Lord Mayor of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia from 1955 to 1961.

Early life

Groom was born at Teneriffe, Queensland on 30 December 1906, and educated at Brisbane Grammar School and the University of Queensland, where he was President of the University of Queensland Union. He graduated in 1932 and joined his father's accountancy firm.

Politics

In 1943 he entered local politics as a Citizens' Municipal Organisation councillor in the Brisbane City Council. He served two terms as Lord Mayor from 1955. Despite severe budget restrictions he attempted to improve the city's infrastructure, particularly the water, electricity and sewer networks. His successor, the Labor Party's Clem Jones, was more successful in these endeavours.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Lord Mayor Groom, Brisbane, February 1958

Later life

Following electoral defeat, Groom was knighted in 1961 and returned to a career in accountancy and business. As well as running his own accountancy firm, during the 1960s and 1970s he served as chairman of Mount Isa Mines, P&O Australia and the Commonwealth Bank, amongst others.

Reg Groom died on 28 June 1987 at Guyra, New South Wales.

See also

References

Australian Dictionary of Biography

Political offices
Preceded by
Frank Roberts
Lord Mayor of Brisbane
1955 1961
Succeeded by
Clem Jones
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/5/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.