Mr John (Jack) Joseph Simons
- Position
- Member Centenary Committee
- Committee group
- Country organisation
- Year of death
- 1948
- Plaque number
- FA37
- Dedicated by
- Kings Park Board on 29 September 1929
- More information
Biography abstract:
John 'Jack' Joseph Simons (12/8/1882 - 24/10/1948) was born in Clare, South Australia and came to Fremantle about 1896 to work for a tinsmith.
In 1905, with Lionel Boas, Victor Courtney and others, he set up the YAL (Youth Australia League), initially as a football club for the national code of football to counter the English teachers' influence with soccer.
The emphasis changed to include cultural activities such as literature, debating, band music and theatrical performances as well as sport. It also included travel with 1909 being the first of many interstate tours, and in 1911, 1914, 1925 and 1929 overseas tours.
Mr Simons was responsible for the acquisition of land in 1930 to set up Araluen, with its memorial to the 89 YAL boys who died in WW1, with a grove of 89 steps and 89 pencil pines.
John Simon became a labor MLA for East Perth in 1922 but resigned in 1923 to be an Independent.
Another of Mr Simons' interests was the newspaper 'The Call', which we was running with Victor Courtney.
In time, he became manager director of Western Press, which included the 'Mirror' and 'Sunday Times' and many country newspapers. He was an organiser of the 'Buy Australian' campaign.
Mr Simons was state president of Australian Natives Association, a Rotarian, life member of the WA Trotting Association (secretary 1913-14) and local chairman of Scottish Insurance Corporation.
Mr John Simons was a member of the Western Australian Centenary Committee (Country Organisation) in 1929.