Joe Gander

Who was Joe Gander?

Joseph Herbert "Joe" Gander was an Australian politician. Born in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia, he received a primary education before becoming a billiardmaker and public servant. He was involved in local politics in Sydney, being elected to Newtown Council. In 1931, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the member for Reid, a member of the Lang Labor party; he defeated Percy Coleman, the Labor member. When, in 1936, the Lang Labor members rejoined the Labor party, Gander was one of them. However, in 1940, the Labor Party split again, and Gander was among the members to join the Langite Australian Labor Party. However, he was defeated in the election of that year by the federal Labor candidate, Charles Morgan, and retired from politics, returning to public service. Gander died in 1954.