Rob Akers

Robert George Akers (17 October 1941 – 28 October 2006) was an architect and Liberal Party Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, for the seat of Pine Rivers 1974–1983. Later he was Chairman of Shire of Pine Rivers from 1985 to 1994.[1] In 1995, he stood for the State seat of Kurwongbah as an independent.

Rob Akers
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Pine Rivers
In office
7 December 1974 – 22 October 1983
Preceded byKenneth Leese
Succeeded byYvonne Chapman
Personal details
Born
Robert George Akers

(1941-10-17)17 October 1941
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Died28 October 2006(2006-10-28) (aged 65)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political partyLiberal Party
Spouse(s)Ilse Frances Gaylard (m. 1965-19??)
Rosemary Annette Kyburz (née Plim) (m. 1981-present); 2 sons
Alma materUniversity of Queensland
OccupationArchitect

Akers was the second son of Pine Rivers Councillor James Henry Akers (1913–1977) and M. B. S. (Molly) Akers OAM (died 1999). He attended Brisbane Grammar School.

Marriages

Akers married (the second marriage for both) fellow parliamentarian Rosemary Kyburz while in parliament, the first time sitting members had married each other. They have two sons.[2]

He and his wife both lost their seats in the 1983 Liberal Party electoral collapse after Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen characterised many of the Liberal Party members of his Coalition government as "ratbags". These events led to the end of the National-Liberal Coalition in Queensland (at State level).

Later career

Akers entered the 1994 Mayoral election as sitting Shire Chairman against Yvonne Chapman and 4 others. In addition to being the first time the Shire elected a Mayor, it was also the first time a preferential ballot was used. Cr Akers received the majority of the first preferences but Ms Chapman was victorious after the distribution of preferences. This was the second time Ms Chapman had defeated Rob Akers at significant election, having taken the Queensland Parliamentary seat of Pine Rivers from him in 1983.

Honours, Awards, recognition
  • Rob Akers was honoured by Pine Rivers Shire naming the Rob Akers Reserve, a substantial sports ground and parklands after him.
  • Rob Akers was a recipient of the Centenary Medal in 2001 for: "distinguished service to the community through parliament, local government and the Lions Club"[3]

References
  1. Melva A.; Welch (2008), Not pineapples, not pine trees but-- Pine Rivers: revised chronicle of local government in Pine Rivers Shire, 1888 to 2008 (Revised and updated [ed.] ed.), Pine Rivers Shire Council, ISBN 978-0-9577523-5-1
  2. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  3. "It's an Honour". Australian Government. Retrieved 21 March 2008.


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