The Hon. John Hepher

The Hon. John Hepher MLC, who lived in Cambridge street in the late 1920's.  He would've been in his 70s when listed as resident at 67 Cambridge Street in the Sands Directory of 1926.  He was an MLC (Member of the Legislative Council, NSW's upper house) from 1899 until his death in 1932 at the age of 83. You'd think that is a pretty good electoral record but you would be wrong. From 1856 to 1934 the upper house was filled by appointment. And once appointed the term was for life. That is a pretty good gig but even that was a watering down of what Blue Mountains explorer William Charles Wentworth wanted (he had asked Britain for a hereditary peerage for the NSW upper house!).

You can find a brief biography of John on the NSW parliamentary website here.  He was born in 1850 in Cambridgeshire England and arrived in NSW c. 1882 where he set himself up as a tailor. He was an ALP man and trade unionist (how times change!), becoming the President of the NSW Tailors Union and also leading the Eight Hours Committee (as in 8 hours work, 8 hours rest, 8 hours play) which was a huge movement back in his day.  I have included an example of a great 8 hours banner from the Pressers Union which is on display at the Sydney Trades Hall.  Sydney was the first place to get the 8 hour day (and then only for stonemasons), most of the rest of world worked over 10 hours a day, six days a week so we do have a bit to thank these guys for.  The 8 hour workday only became standard across Australia in the 1920s.

As befitting an MLC there are a few old newspaper articles available on Trove.  One notable incident of his parliamentary career was his being physically carried in to the upper house to vote on the Mortgages Taxation Bill whilst he was seriously ill.  Now that is dedication.