QLD: Long serving mayor dies

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-1999
QLD: Long serving mayor dies

Australia's longest serving mayor, Rockhampton's REX PILBEAM, has died in the Royal
Brisbane Hospital, aged 91.

Mr PILBEAM rose to political prominence in 1952 when, as an independent, he won the
Rockhampton mayoralty in what then was described as the strongest Labor city in the country.

He held the post for 30 years, retiring in 1982.

From being shot at by someone to forcing pregnant women to resign from Rockhampton City
Council, Mr PILBEAM was regularly in the news.

In 1960, he won the state seat of Rockhampton South for the Liberal Party and held it for
nine years.

Mr PILBEAM was born in Longreach on October 30, 1907, and spent 20 years in the public
service before joining the army in World War II.

AAP RTV geb/rat

KEYWORD: PILBEAM (BRISBANE)

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