Background
Donald was born at Redbank, Queensland, to parents Andrew Donald and his wife Jessie (née Simpson) and was educated at Redbank State School and Ipswich State School.
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Jim Donald
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Career
He then began an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker, attending Ipswich Technical College before entering the mining industry as a winding engine driver. lieutenant was this job that led to a long association with Queensland Colliery Employees Union where he started out as a union organizer and was Vice President several times in the 1940s. When the member for Bremer, former Premier Frank Cooper, retired from politics in March 1946, Donald was chosen by the Labor Party to be their candidate at the by-election which was held on the 25 May 1946.
Although Donald was in parliament for 23 years, he was never appointed to the ministry, almost certainly due to having refused to support a bill introduced by the Labor Party concerning miners" pensions and entitlements.
He had a very quiet manner of debate, which was always well backed up by a great deal of preparation and research.
Achievements
Politics
Donald held Bremer until the seat was abolished prior to the 1960 state election when he moved to the newly created seat of Ipswich East which he went on to hold from 1960 until his retirement from politics in 1969. He was, however, secretary of the State Parliamentary Party for 21 years and when the leader of the opposition, Les Wood, expectedly died in 1958, Donald became the new opposition leader on the 14 April of that year. During his political career, Donald earned a reputation as the most modest and unassuming gentlemen to serve in the Parliament.
He was also a temperance advocate, on which his views were rigid and uncompromising.
