Background
The son of George Archibald Jamieson, a vineyard employee and World War I veteran, and nurse Mona Colvin, Colin Jamieson was born in Perth on 26 May 1923.
The son of George Archibald Jamieson, a vineyard employee and World War I veteran, and nurse Mona Colvin, Colin Jamieson was born in Perth on 26 May 1923.
He attended Midland, Victoria Park and Leederville primary schools, and the Junior Technical College in West Perth.
Ron Davies succeeded him in the latter role. He was defeated by incumbent Liberal Premier Sir Charles Court at the state election of 1977. Completing his formal education at 15, he worked at the Metropolitan Markets as an assistant fruit and produce merchant, then at a motor body works with the intention of becoming apprenticed, before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 30 July 1942.
He was assigned to the 121 Reserve Motor Transport Company with the rank of Corporal, transferring to the Royal Australian Air Force in 1944 as a radar mechanic with the rank of Leading Aircraftman.
After discharge in April 1946, Jamieson worked first as a labourer and storeman at the Midland Railway Workshops, and became active in union matters until leaving the company to train as a carpenter and joiner under an ex-serviceman"s scheme. Jamieson was heavily involved in community service throughout his life – particularly amateur football whose state organisation he served from 1947 until 1986 as an executive member and later as president, although he was also a keen tennis player.
He also supported several horticultural societies, and was a regular and successful exhibitor of roses, dahlias and chrysanthemums. After his retirement from politics in 1986, he served as chairman of the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board and Fremantle Cemeteries Board.
In 1988, he was awarded the Order of Australia for his services to the Western Australian Parliament and the community.
He died at Street John of God Hospital, Subiaco, on 27 March 1990 after a short illness, and was cremated in Karrakatta Cemetery. A drive within Fremantle Cemetery and a road within the industrial suburb of Welshpool on the former site of the Main Roads depot were named in his honour.
A member of the Australian Labor Party, he served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1953 until 1986, as the Minister for Works and Water Supplies in the Tonkin Ministry (1971–1974) and as Leader of the Opposition (1976–1978).