Reg Downing
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The Honourable Reg Downing AC QC |
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|---|---|
 |
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| Attorney General of New South Wales | |
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In office 15 March 1956 – 13 May 1965 |
|
| Premier |
Joseph Cahill Bob Heffron Jack Renshaw |
| Preceded by | Bill Sheahan |
| Succeeded by | Ken McCaw |
| Leader of the New South Wales Opposition in the Legislative Council | |
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In office 13 May 1965 – 4 February 1972 |
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| Preceded by | Arthur Bridges |
| Succeeded by | Neville Wran |
| Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales | |
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In office 23 April 1940 – 4 February 1972 |
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| Succeeded by | John Ducker |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
6 November 1904 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 9 September 1994 (aged 89) Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse(s) | Rose Moyeen |
| Relations |
Frank Downing (Brother) Thomas O'Mara (Cousin) Bill Sheahan (Cousin) Terry Sheahan (Cousin) |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Robert Reginald Downing, AC QC (6 November 1904 – 9 September 1994) was an Australian lawyer, textile worker, union organiser and politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for the Australian Labor Party for 31 years from 1940 to 1972 and also served as the Attorney General, Minister for Justice and Vice-President of the Executive Council from 1941 to 1965.
Robert Reginald Downing was born in the New South Wales town of Tumut in 1904, the son of council worker Robert Downing and Frances Jean Galvin. The cousin of former member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Tumut, Thomas O'Mara as well as future NSW Attorneys General, Bill Sheahan and Terry Sheahan, Downing's younger brother, Francis George Downing, would also join the NSW Parliament as an MP for Ryde. Initially educated at the Tumut convent school and St Patrick's College, Goulburn, Downing left school at age 15 and worked to support his family.
Later moving to Sydney, he found work in the Bonds textile factory. It was here that he joined the Australian Textile Workers' Union, rising to become a union organiser and eventually state president from 1928 until 1934. Rising further to be New South Wales secretary and federal president (1934–1941) as well as a trustee of the Labor Council, Downing soon joined the Australian Labor Party, becoming president of Gladesville Branch. On 11 April 1932 he married Rose Moyeen and had one daughter and two sons. Intending to finish his education that he left as a 15-year-old, Downing matriculated at the University of Sydney in 1938. He then proceeded to study law, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 1943 and being called to the New South Wales bar the same year.
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