Obituaries Australia

The death of "Darby" [David] Riordan, M.H.R., at the Mater Hospital, Brisbane, last Thursday morning bereaves Queensland of one of the outstanding figures in its political life, deprives Labor of the services of one of its most loyal, effective, and thoroughly tested representatives, and leaves to mourn his loss a wider circle of personal friends than it falls to the lot of any but men of rare qualities to win in a comparatively brief career. As a mark of respect both the Federal and the Queensland Parliaments adjourned when the sad news was made known.

Although it was known that, following a very severe operation for gallstones a few weeks ago, 'Darby' Riordan was seriously ill, it was hoped that his sound constitution would pull him through: there was encouragement for a time for this hope, then his condition took a turn for the worse, pneumonia supervened, which, despite his stout and gallant resistance, culminated in his death. He is survived by his widow and two daughters, aged 21 and 18 years, and, his brothers E. J. Riordan, M.L.A., T. Riordan, and W. J. Riordan, member of the Industrial Court. His mother and four sisters are also living.

His Parliamentary Career
'Darby' Riordan was born in Mackay in 1888, and was educated in North Queensland schools. His early lessons in Labor principles he acquired in railway construction, timber, and mining camps; later, he entered the railway service and was employed as a guard on the Etheridge line. Here his powerful physique (he was considerably over six feet tall ) his cheery good nature, and his activities on behalf of unionism soon made him so widely and favorably known that the Parliamentary seat for Bourke was his for the contesting, and in 1918 he captured it for Labor from W. S. ('Kuropatkin') Murphy. In the State House he developed from the pure rough diamond to be one of the party's best speakers, and his popularity continued to increase so that he resigned his seat in expectation of winning back for Labor the seat for the Federal Division of Kennedy. This he accomplished by defeating Grosvenor Francis in 1929, and he had since retained this seat.

Tributes in the State House
On the motion of the Premier (W. Forgan Smith), seconded by the Leader of the Opposition (E. B. Maher), the Queensland Parliament on Thursday placed on record its sense of the loss this State has sustained by the death of Mr. Riordan, and requested the Speaker (G. Pollock) to convey to Mrs. Riordan an expression of sympathy and sorrow of the members in the loss of her husband.

The House, on the motion of the Premier, was then adjourned till the following day as a token of the respect, sympathy, and regard in which the late Mr. Riordan was held by members of the State Parliament.

Premier Forgan Smith said that the late Mr. Riordan was elected as member for Bourke in the Queensland Parliament on March 16, 1918, and he resigned on September 16, 1929, after 11 ½ years' period of service in the House. He was temporary Chairman of Committees in the sessions of 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1929. On October 12, 1929, he was elected as member for Kennedy in the House of Representatives and secured re-election at each successive election. He was temporary Chairman of Committees in the Federal Parliament from March, 1932, to date.

Mr. Riordan played a very distinguished part in the public life of Queensland and of the Commonwealth of Australia. Every member of the Queensland House appreciated his qualities.

'He was one of those fine types of men who come from the Australian bush, and who are like a health-giving breeze on a good day, when you meet them,' said the Premier. 'He was a fine, upstanding, open-hearted man who stood for everything that is meant when we say mateship. He was a good mate, a good Australian, and a good citizen.

'On behalf of Parliament, I express our sympathy with the wife and family and also with the brothers and sisters who mourn his loss. He was a type of man that we can ill spare to lose in the public life of Queensland and Australia.'

Mr. Maher's Tribute
The leader of the Opposition (Mr. E. B. Maher) said that it was with very deep regret that he rose to second the motion of condolence which had been moved by the Premier at the death of an old member of the Queensland Parliament, Mr. Riordan. 'This session they had had to express sympathy with the relatives of three members of the Queensland Parliament who had died. It illustrated the toll taken of those who dedicated their lives to public service. The constant travail and the close study of conflicting problems that arose in modern Parliamentary life took toll of men who applied themselves with zeal to the solution of the problems of State.

'The late Mr. Riordan was a big hearted, generous-natured man, who carried no bitterness in his speeches in this House, and carried none out of his House, and he was a man who was greatly respected by every member on this side of the House.' Mr. Maher said: 'He belonged to a family which has figured prominently in the public life of this State. The members of the Opposition associate themselves very fully with the motion of condolence which the Premier has moved, and we wish to offer to Mrs. Riordan and family, the member for Bowen, and all members of the Riordan family our sincere condolences in their time of sorrow.'

Mr. J. F. Maxwell, on behalf of the United Australia Party, said that the late Mr. Riordan was a fine type of man, a good fellow, one who had never carried any element of spleen out of the Chamber during the time he was a member of the Queensland Parliament. He was physically big and mentally big; he was broadminded. In the words of Scripture, it could be said of the late Mr. Riordan, 'He hath done what he could.'

'Keen Fighter for His State,' Says Mr. J. Francis
'Mr. Riordan's death has come as a severe shock to me,' said Mr. J. Francis, M.P. 'The progress reports I had received lately, while varying at times, appeared to point to the fact that he would rally and after a time be quite strong again.

'He was of an exceedingly cheerful disposition, generous, and very popular with all sections of the Federal Parliament. He was a keen fighter for his State in the National Parliament, and will be much missed in debate.

'Mr. Riordan was a member of the State Parliament for ten years and he completed his eighth year as member for Kennedy in the Federal House on Monday last. His untimely death has cut short a life full of public service.'

Federal House Tributes
Canberra, October 16.

Glowing tributes were paid by Government and Opposition members in the House of Representatives to-day to the personal and political qualities of the late Mr. David Riordan, member for Kennedy, who died in Brisbane this morning. By a strange coincidence the death of the last sitting member, Mr. P. G. Stewart, ex Minister for Works, was announced in the House of Representatives on October 15 five years ago. Members stood for one minute to signify their acceptance of a motion moved by the Prime Minister (Mr. J. A. Lyons) that—

'This House expresses its profound regret at the death of Mr. David Riordan and places on record its appreciation of his meritorious public service and tenders to his widow and family its sincerest sympathy.'

The resolution will be forwarded by Parliament to Mrs. Riordan.

Mr. Lyons said that the late Mr. Riordan had been a member of the House of Representatives since the general election in 1929, and since 1932 had been temporary Chairman of Committees. His death had come as a shock to Parliament and the community, which felt that they had lost a personal associate and the services of a very fine Australian.

'We have all been closely associated with Mr. Riordan,' said Mr. Lyons, 'and we have learned to appreciate the high and splendid qualities which he possessed. His life has been devoted to the services of his country, while in another sphere in which he moved he won the respect and confidence of those with whom he was associated, the respect, affection, and gratitude of his fellow workers, and the respect of those associated with him in his industrial organisation.

Able and Courageous
'He was an able and courageous defender of the principles and the party for which he stood. However urgent he may have appeared in debate in the interests of his principles, and party, he never lost the respect of those politically opposed to him. He was a personal friend of every member of the Chamber where every one respected and admired him.

'To his widow and family we offer the deepest sympathy and we want them to feel that he has rendered a very great service to the nation. His cheery optimistic personality helped him to make friends of all those who were associated with him, and his passing will leave a very great gap, not only in the ranks of his party but in Parliament itself.

'I offer the deepest sympathy to the Labor Party in the loss it has sustained.'

Loved His Country
Associating himself with these expressions of sympathy, the leader of the Opposition (Mr. J. Curtin) said that Mr. Riordan had been a very, very great Australian. In him there was the sincerest patriotism. He loved his country and the men and women in it. He believed that the best he could do as a son of Australia was to do his best for the people in the Commonwealth. He came from Queensland and he typified the characteristics of the people of that State. He had high ideals and they pervaded every act he undertook.

The leader of the Country Party (Dr. Earle Page) said that although compared with other members of the House, Mr. Riordan's term had been comparatively short, his robustness of expression and keenness for work had so impressed him upon the House that it seemed difficult to visualise the time when he was not a member. He brought to Parliament and the consideration of public affairs a practical and specialised knowledge of industry and working conditions in the outback of Australia.

Many other members associated themselves with the expressions of sympathy, and without attending to further business the House adjourned until 8 p.m. on Wednesday as a mark of respect to the late member.

Mr. Curtin has cancelled his engagement to attend the dinner to Sir Walter Kinnear, the visiting British insurance expert, while no Labor members will attend the garden party at Government House to-day. In addition, the flags are being flown at half-mast at Parliament House.

Party Expresses Deep Regret at Special Meeting
A special meeting of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party on Thursday expressed deep regret at the death of its esteemed colleague, David Riordan, and placed on record its appreciation of his inestimable services to the Labor Movement and to the Party, and tendered to his widow and daughters its profound sympathy in their irreparable loss.

'He Was a Great Australian'
'Clearly Darby Riordan was a man's man,' said Senator G. Brown. 'In every part of Queensland, in camps, on farms, down mines, the news of his passing will come as a distressing shock. Darby's splendid qualities endeared him to all. A great fighter in the political arena, nevertheless, his opponents as well as his friends admired and loved him. Kindly, but firm, fearless and faithful. Darby Riordan was a great Australian.

'I was closely associated with him in his Parliamentary work, and I can pay this tribute to him, that whilst he was a stern fighter for party discipline and advancement, at the same time he always sought the welfare of Australia. My deepest sympathy goes out to his dear wife and family.'

Lord Mayor Recalls Trips Together
'I very much regret his untimely death, and express my deep sympathy with Mrs. Riordan, the children, and other relatives,' said the Lord Mayor (Alderman A. J. Jones).

The Lord Mayor recalled that Mr. Riordan and himself were in the State House together, and when in the Ministry they had a number of northern trips together. On two of these they visited Burketown, Normanton, Mount Isa, and Camooweal, and travelled through the Northern Territory — trips that necessitated a lot of camping out.

It was there, said the Lord Mayor, that one was able to judge the wonderful character and nature of 'Darby' Riordan, who had always 'carried more than his share of the firewood.'

'Over The Speaker's Chair'
Extracts From the 'Canberra Times'

In a tribute to the late Darby Riordan, the 'Canberra Times,' published at the Federal Territory, had some very fine references to the sterling qualities of our old comrade.

'The flag was half mast for Darby Riordan,' said 'The Times' in its commentary 'Over the Speaker's Chair,' The flag was at half-mast for "Darby" Riordan. In the House they called him "the honourable member for Kennedy"; but outside the Chamber he was 'Darby' to them all. Early yesterday morning the news of his death in hospital in Brisbane was received. It was not unexpected, because he had been in hospital for weeks and, although he had made a brave fight, little hope was held out for his recovery.

He was always a brave fighter. He was noted for his fighting qualities in the Queensland Parliament, and when he came into the Federal Parliament as member for Kennedy seven or eight years ago it soon became evident that here was a man to be reckoned with. He was in the prime of life, and he looked a fighter every inch of him — a man with a punch, a hard-hitter. And so it proved. He was always hitting out, and hitting hard. And his opponents, like his closest friends, called him 'Darby'; for when the fight was over he would, like enough, run into his opponent in the King's Hall or thereabout and, taking him by the arm, would say: 'You know, you've got that business all wrong, and I had to give you a towelling .... Did I ever tell you the story of that croc, that nearly got me on the Proserpine? It was this way . . . .'

He had, too, the gift of humor — all too rare a gift in the Parliament. But his greatest asset was his earnestness in the cause for which he fought. It was the cause of the 'under dog.' The workers never had a greater champion than he, the poor worker never had a greater friend.

'Darby' Riordan's Funeral
Thousands Pay Homage
His Mates Come from Near and Far

The crowd which stood in Elizabeth Street — part of it an overflow from St. Stephen's Cathedral— when the funeral service for David ('Darby') Riordan was held last Friday afternoon was not an assemblage due to curiosity and the love of the unusual. It was a throng of men, women, and children, many of whom had known the good, true man who had died, and it was intensely serious and very sad. Some in the streets, speaking in hushed tones, told of how they had known 'Darby' when he was a child, or as a genial, kindly guard of a far northern railway service. Others who had not known him till he became a people's parliamentary representative spoke of his ever ready helpfulness, of how he made a pleasure of doing things even for those who had no political claims on him. Very gentle with women and children, a never failing mate to honest men, and from afar his mates of several political faiths came to his funeral.

George Lawson (also representing the Speaker of the House of Representatives), Frank Forde, Bernard Corser, Frank Baker, J. Gander, J. A. Beasley, C. W. Frost, and D. Mulcahy, fellow members of the House of Representatives, came speeding from Canberra, and were just in time for the cathedral service. J. Francis, M.H.R., represented the Federal Ministry. The State Premier (W. Forgan Smith) and other members of the Queensland Government, many private members of the State Parliament, both Labor and anti-Labor, Federal Senators, the Leader of the Opposition in the State House, old colleagues as ex-Premier McCormack, M. J. Kirwan, and others; the Labor Lord Mayor of Brisbane, leaders in the union movement — R. J. Carroll (State organiser and acting-secretary of the Q.C.E.), S. J. Bryan (President of Brisbane Trades and Labor Council), C. G. Fallon (Branch Secretary, A.W.U.), and A. J. Lamont (Branch President, A.W.U.) — and hundreds of others.

The family mourners included the dead man's wife and two daughters, his mother, his three brothers — the best known of whom is W. J. Riordan of the Industrial Court Bench, the others, E. J. Riordan, M.L.A., and T. Riordan of Mackay — also four sisters, Mesdames Goggin, Tomlins, Bertini, and Cherry, and relatives of the younger generation.

The service was conducted by the Archbishop, who delivered a brief address, in which he praised the characteristics and record of David Riordan, who had died at a time when the Commonwealth could ill spare men of his type.

The pall-bearers were W. Forgan Smith, G. Lawson, M. J. Hynes, J. Lough, S. J. Bryan, C. G. Fallon, H. A. Bruce, and J. C. Lamont, all of whom were representative of the A.W.U., which Riordan sometimes, in his quaintly humorous way, used to claim as his 'first best friend;' The coffin beside which they walked was heavily covered with floral beauty, and flowers also filled a special car. Many of the wreaths and other floral emblems had come by direction of people throughout Queensland and from sorrowing friends in other states. Not to many men is the faculty given to earn affection from all, no matter in what social sphere, who have ever known them.

The long cortege passed to the family grave at Lutwyche Cemetery. The funeral was over, but the man himself will be remembered throughout their lives, not alone by those who were nearest to him in name and love, but by a human host whom his cheery kindliness, rugged honesty, and gift of humor had captured and held in goodfellowship.