   arthur augustus calwell (28 august 1896 â 8 july 1973) australian politician, was a member of the australian house of representatives for 32 years from 1940 to 1972, immigration minister in the government of ben chifley from 1945 to 1949 and leader of the australian labor party from 1960 to 1967. ==early life== calwell was born in melbourne. his father was a police officer of irish descent, and both father and son were active in melbourne's irish community (including membership of the celtic club). his mother was of irish-american descent. a gifted high school student, calwell was a devout roman catholic and joined the australian labor party in his youth. lacking the financial resources to pursue a university education, calwell read very widely, acquired substantial skill in speaking to audiences, and became a clerk in the victorian public service, in which he worked for the department of agriculture and the state treasury. from 1927 to 1931 he served as president of the victorian branch of the australian public sector association (the union representing himself and his colleagues). calwell's first marriage was to margaret mary murphy in 1921. she died in 1922, and ten years later, on 29 august 1932, he married elizabeth (bessie) marren, a strong-willed, intelligent and well-read irishwoman who w
1896_births 1973_deaths Australian_Labor_Party_politicians Australian_Leaders_of_the_Opposition Australian_Roman_Catholics Knights_Commander_with_Star_of_the_Order_of_St._Gregory_the_Great Members_of_the_Australian_House_of_Representatives Members_of_the_Australian_House_of_Representatives_for_Melbourne Members_of_the_Cabinet_of_Australia