Reginald 'Rex' Colin Townley
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(15 April 1904 – 3 May 1982) was an Australian politician who served as leader of the
Liberal Party in
Tasmania from 1950 to 1956. He also played
first-class cricket for the
Tasmanian cricket team in his younger years, dismissing
Donald Bradman
Sir Donald George Bradman, (27 August 1908 – 25 February 2001), nicknamed "The Don", was an Australian international cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time. Bradman's career Test batting average of 99.94 has bee ...
in the 1935 season.
Cricket career
As Tasmania didn't compete in the
Sheffield Shield at the time of his cricketing career, Townley's appearances for his state were limited to matches against touring sides such as the
Marylebone Cricket Club and
South Africa as well as out of season first-class fixtures against other Australian states.
A legbreak bowler, Townley took 36 wickets at 35.52 in first-class matches. His claim to fame as a cricketer was dismissing
Donald Bradman
Sir Donald George Bradman, (27 August 1908 – 25 February 2001), nicknamed "The Don", was an Australian international cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time. Bradman's career Test batting average of 99.94 has bee ...
, caught and bowled for 369, in a first-class match against
South Australia, the legendary batsman's second highest ever score at that level. He also claimed in his career the wickets of English Test cricketer
Ernest Tyldesley and South African Test player
Bruce Mitchell.
Political career
Like his younger brother
Athol, the Australian
Minister for Defence from 1958 to 1963, Townley went into politics. He joined the
Tasmanian House of Assembly at the
1946 election as an Independent, representing
Denison.
The Liberal Party installed Townley as their leader for the
1950 election but lost to incumbent Premier
Robert Cosgrove, despite achieving a 9.8% swing. With the Liberals regaining two seats which had been held by Independents since 1948, Labor stayed in power only thanks to the support of the remaining Independent,
Bill Wedd.
Townley also led the Liberals into the
1955 election
The following elections occurred in the year 1955.
Africa
* 1955 Liberian general election
* 1955 South-West African legislative election
Asia
* 1955 Cambodian parliamentary election
* 1955 Indonesian Constituent Assembly election
* 1955 Indon ...
and picked up a seat to leave the House of Assembly with a deadlock as both parties had 15 seats out of a possible 30 in the assembly. Cosgrove however remained as
Premier of Tasmania.
On 30 June 1965, Townley resigned from parliament, having never failed to defend his seat in an election.
See also
*
List of Tasmanian representative cricketers
References
External links
*
*
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Townley, Rex
1904 births
1982 deaths
Australian cricketers
Tasmania cricketers
Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Tasmania
Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Australian sportsperson-politicians
Leaders of the Opposition in Tasmania
20th-century Australian politicians
Cricketers from Hobart