Thomas Glass

Thomas Glass (c. 1864 – 17 May 1911) was an Australian politician and Chief President of the Australian Natives Association.

Early years

Australian Natives' Association

Glass became a member of the Sandhurst (later Bendigo) ANA branch No.5 in about 1885. He was an active member of his local ANA branch, and represented his branch as a delegate at several annual conferences. He was elected to the ANA Board at the 1900 conference. He was elected chief president of ANA at Queenscliff Annual Conference in 1905. Glass is one of seven members of Bendigo branch to have achieved the office of Chief President of ANA.

As Chief President he presided over the 1906 Annual Conference at Shepparton in which it was reported that Melbourne's Friendly Societies Gardens had been surrendered to the Government due to difficulties paying for the upkeep of the gardens, as the terms of the lease precludied sub-leasing of some of the land. The Friendly Societies Gardens were located on the banks of the Yarra on Swan Street near Jolimont Road, Melbourne. There was also a successful proposal that the conference recommends to all Municipalities the establishment of swimming baths in order to teach children to swim. It was reported at the Shepparton Annual Conference that ANA had requested the Government to appoint a curator at the National Park at Wilson's Promontory to protect and restore the native flora and fauna there.

Politics

Glass joined the Labor Party who were quickly impressed with his oratorial and other skills and he was soon considered a candidate for election. He was a Labor candidate for the 1900 Victorian elections, barely losing to Alfred Bailey by 32 votes. Next, he stood as a candidate for the 1906 Federal election for the seat of Bendigo, losing again to opponent John Quick. In 1907, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the Labor member for Bendigo East, serving until 1 May 1911.

Glass was an ardent supporter of Federation.

After he became blind in March 1911, his wife represented him at a Referendum Meeting at Bendigo Town Hall.

Glass resigned from Parliament on 1 May 1911, just over 2 weeks before his death in Melbourne on 17 May 1911.

Later years

On 12 June 1907 he married Kate Pratt Hall.

Glass developed ongoing and unexplained health issues culminating in his death at the age of 46 on 17 May 1911. A late stage brain tumour was diagnosed and successfully operated on, but he was so weakened at this stage that he couldn't recover.