PEDAL POWER IN QUEENSLAND POLITICS

With so much attention being given to the  record number of  Independents voted in  at  the last  federal  election  , into  this  blog  wheeled  the   superb , scuffed  book , full of information  on  boisterous  early  Queensland  political battles ,  centred  on   a  key  , colourful  figure  , Tom  Aikens .

 We  told  Darwin  resident  Bob  White , who had  lived in  Townsville  ,  that  the  book  had come  our  way , did he  know  anything  about Aikens  ?  He  responded  with an  amusing anecdote , thus : 

Tom, the irrepressible ,well known member for Townsville South. When going to Brisbane sittings of Parliament, would ride his push bike to the railway station in Townsville, put it in the guard's van, and get out at Roma Street Station and  ride to his  Parliament  house  digs  around  the  corner. 

A famous old time character of  my era. He knew most  people by name, and always up  for  a  chat.

He  is renowned for an occasion in Townsville , walking along the Hermit Park main drag -Charters Towers Road- talking to constituents ( meet and greet ) on  a  busy Saturday morning ,saying  hello .

 One lady , Mrs  McGrath , with some other women , was standing  waiting for a  bus .

 Aiken  asked  how her good husband Jack was  these days . She replied he had  died  last  year .  Aiken said he was  very  sorry to  hear ,  that  Jack had  been  a  great bloke,  and  after  passing on  condolences , moved  on .

On his way back some time later, he greeted her once more and asked how her  good husband Jack  was getting on .  She replied :"Still Dead". It  was  a  well   known  story.

Born in 1900, Aikens  was in parliament for more than 20 years , 77  when     finally  voted  out.