OCRd book entry or other narrative
BYRNES, PERCY THOMAS. 1912.
W.C.; Queen's; former student of Agriculture.
Enlisted in 1915, Dvr. A.A.M.C.; later transf. 3rd Pioneers; badly gassed in 1917.
Narrative
Concern for the welfare of soldier settlers drew Byrnes into politics. He was elected to the Swan Hill Shire Council in 1935 (president 1939-40). At the 1937 and 1940 State elections he contested Swan Hill as an endorsed Country Party candidate, but the seat was easily retained by Frank Old. On the death of Henry Pye, Byrnes was chosen in 1942 as Country Party candidate for the Legislative Council province of North Western which he won uncontested and held until his retirement in 1969. ADB entry