George Dankel

George Dankel
Member of the Australian Parliament for Boothby
In office 31 May 1913 – 26 March 1917
Preceded by	David Gordon
Succeeded by	William Story
Personal details
Born	6 March 1864 Germany
Died	31 May 1926 (aged 62)
Nationality	German
Political party	Labor (1913–17) Nationalist (1917)

George Dankel (6 March 1864 – 31 May 1926) was one of the first members of the Australian House of Representatives who was not of Anglo-Celtic origin. Being born in Germany, and the spread of World War I, it is understandable he chose to retire in the 1917 election.^[1] He was a member for the Division of Boothby in South Australia from 1913 until 1917. Prior to this he was a state MP in the seat of Torrens from 1905 to 1912. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party, switching to the Nationalist Party of Australia in 1917.^[2]

Dankel left Germany for Australia at the age of 15, primarily to avoid military service. He worked in the country for several years before settling in Kensington and opening a butcher shop. He served on the district council and was a foundation member of the Australian Labor Party. He was elected as a member for Torrens in 1905, 1906 and 1910, but was defeated in 1912. He defeated the sitting Liberal member, David Gordon to be elected to Boothby in 1913, and reelected in 1914. As World War I got underway, the All-British League raised 17,000 signatures calling for Dankel's resignation or dismissal. He continued to regularly attend parliament, but rarely spoke in the chamber. He left the ALP with Billy Hughes and 21 others to form the Nationalist Party which was in favour of compulsory military service. Both Dankel and Jacob Stumm, the only other German-born MP chose not to stand in the 1917 election.^[3]

References

1. Dr Andrew Southcott MP, Member for Boothby (SA) First Speech To Parliament - 6/5/1996
2. Parliamentary Handbook: Historical Information on the Australia Parliament
3. Stock, Jenny Tilby (14 May 2011). "South Australia's 'German' MPs in World War I – the limits of tolerance". Professional Historians Association (South Australia). Retrieved 30 April 2015.