14 Facts About Guelfi Scassola

Guelfi Paul Scassola was an Australian politician.

Guelfi Scassola was a Liberal Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1977 until 1983, representing the electorate of Mount Gravatt.

Guelfi Scassola was raised and educated in north Queensland, attending Silkwood State Primary School and Silkwood Convent School, but his father died when he was twelve, and facing hard times, his family relocated to Brisbane.

Guelfi Scassola subsequently attended St Stephen's School, St Patrick's School, Kangaroo Point State Primary School, and Brisbane State High School, before graduating in law from the University of Queensland in 1963.

Guelfi Scassola did his articled clerkship at the firm of senior Liberal Party figure Leo Catt, and thereafter became a solicitor.

Guelfi Scassola was involved in the Liberal Party for many years, serving on the state council of the Young Liberals from 1964 to 1967, the state executive of the party from 1958 to 1968 and from 1969 to 1973, the state policy committee from 1969 to 1977, the party's federal council from 1971 to 1975, and as its Queensland state vice-president from 1963 until 1977.

Guelfi Scassola was elected to the Legislative Assembly at the 1977 election, winning the seat of Mount Gravatt upon the retirement of Liberal MLA Geoff Chinchen.

Guelfi Scassola was particularly concerned with family and disability issues as an MLA, the later stemming from his experience as the father of a son with Down syndrome.

Guelfi Scassola was a member of the "Ginger Group" of Liberal MLAs who wished to assert a more distinct voice for the Liberal Party, and were concerned about government accountability and the little weight given by Premier Bjelke-Petersen to Liberal opposition to certain decisions.

In 1983, Guelfi Scassola was one of eight Liberals who crossed the floor to vote with Labor over the creation of a public accounts committee.

Guelfi Scassola was one of those defeated, losing his seat to National Ian Henderson.

Guelfi Scassola contested Mount Gravatt twice more unsuccessfully: in 1986, when he again lost to Henderson, and in 1989, when he lost to Labor candidate Judy Spence.

Guelfi Scassola returned to his legal practice after his parliamentary defeat.

Guelfi Scassola was heavily involved in public life outside politics, serving as the foundation president of the Down's Syndrome Association, as president of the Brisbane Metropolitan branch of the Lions Club, and serving as patron of and providing free legal assistance to numerous other community organisations.