Ernest Grimstone

1883 (age 50)

Mackay

He was a Country and Progressive National Party member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1928 until 1933, representing the electorate of Stanley. He taught at Ulam, near Rockhampton, Windorah West, Forsayth and Springsure, before being appointed headmaster at Yarraman Creek State School. While teaching on the Darling Downs, he also farmed experimental lots, mainly dealing in wheat and corn. Grimstone enlisted during World War I, trained at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and was commissioned as a lieutenant. He subsequently served with the 9th Battalion in France from May to November 1918. Following the end of the war, he returned to Yarraman. He was involved in the local community in the years after the war, serving as chairman of the local ambulance committee and as vice-president of the local branch of the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly at a 1928 by-election, following the death of incumbent Stanley Member of Parliament Frederick Lancelot Nott, defeating former Member of Parliament and independent candidate Henry Plantagenet Somerset by 520 votes. He was re-elected by a much larger margin at the 1929 election without Somerset on the ballot. Grimstone suffered a seizure at Toogoolawah in 1933, from which he never fully recovered. He suffered a further seizure while on a visit to Esk in October, and died at the Esk Hospital on 22 October without regaining consciousness. Labor leader William Forgan Smith expressed shock at Grimstone"s sudden death, as it was reported that his health had been improving. He was buried at Toowong Cemetery.

Ernest Grimstone

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politician

Background

Grimstone was born and educated in Mackay.

Career

He was a Country and Progressive National Party member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1928 until 1933, representing the electorate of Stanley. He taught at Ulam, near Rockhampton, Windorah West, Forsayth and Springsure, before being appointed headmaster at Yarraman Creek State School. While teaching on the Darling Downs, he also farmed experimental lots, mainly dealing in wheat and corn.

Grimstone enlisted during World War I, trained at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and was commissioned as a lieutenant.

He subsequently served with the 9th Battalion in France from May to November 1918. Following the end of the war, he returned to Yarraman.

He was involved in the local community in the years after the war, serving as chairman of the local ambulance committee and as vice-president of the local branch of the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly at a 1928 by-election, following the death of incumbent Stanley Member of Parliament Frederick Lancelot Nott, defeating former Member of Parliament and independent candidate Henry Plantagenet Somerset by 520 votes.

He was re-elected by a much larger margin at the 1929 election without Somerset on the ballot.

Grimstone suffered a seizure at Toogoolawah in 1933, from which he never fully recovered. He suffered a further seizure while on a visit to Esk in October, and died at the Esk Hospital on 22 October without regaining consciousness. Labor leader William Forgan Smith expressed shock at Grimstone"s sudden death, as it was reported that his health had been improving.

He was buried at Toowong Cemetery.

Achievements

When the CPNP won the 1932 election under Arthur Edward Moore, he was appointed to the panel of temporary Chairman of Committees and as assistant secretary of the Country Party section of government members. The Courier-Mail reported that Grimstone was a "popular member on both sides of the House" and that "his tolerance and his broadmindedness won him popularity". The resulting by-election was easily won by CPNP candidate Roy Bell in the absence of a Labor candidate.

Connections

teacher:: North Eton Sugar Milling

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