Donald James Grimes was an Australian politician who served as a Senator for Tasmania from 1974 to 1987, representing the Australian Labor Party.
16 Facts About Don Grimes
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Don Grimes was the older of two children born to Nancy and Walter Grimes; his father worked as a fitter and turner with New South Wales Railways.
3.
Don Grimes was educated at Albury High School for three years, but after his mother's death from bowel cancer he and his sister were sent to live with an aunt in Sydney.
4.
Don Grimes completed his education at Fort Street High School and went on to study medicine at the University of Sydney.
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Don Grimes excelled at sport, playing inter-school rugby union for Fort Street, junior rugby league for North Sydney, and Australian football for Sydney University.
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Don Grimes married Margaret Schofield in 1960, with whom he had four children.
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Don Grimes completed his clinical training at Royal North Shore Hospital and his internship at Royal Hobart Hospital in Tasmania, subsequently accepting locum positions in Hobart, New Norfolk and Launceston.
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Don Grimes joined the Australian Labor Party in 1968, after previously joining the British Labour Party during his time in England.
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Don Grimes was elected to the Senate at the 1974 federal election, taking office immediately due to the preceding double dissolution.
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Don Grimes was elected Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate.
11.
Don Grimes underwent a triple bypass operation in June 1985 and returned to work in August.
12.
In October 1986, Don Grimes announced that he would not seek re-election.
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Don Grimes resigned from Parliament in April 1987, but the casual vacancy was not immediately filled because the Tasmanian Parliament stalemated over the appointment of the Labor Party's nominee as replacement senator, John Devereux.
14.
Between 1987 and 1991, Don Grimes was Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands.
15.
Don Grimes was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in January 1992.
16.
Don Grimes was Chairman of South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service from September 1995 to February 2004.