on 30 June 1947, he and Harry Foll were the joint Fathers of the Senate. In 1944 he was asked to leave the Opposition party room and served the remainder of his term as an independent. Respected for his authority on sugar issues, an important industry in Australia at the time, Crawford served as honorary minister and acting minister for trade and customs in the Stanley Bruce government. He was also at times a strong advocate for statehood for the Australian tropics. Legacy Crawford died at Indooroopilly, survived by his wife Emily, four daughters and three sons. His funeral was held at the Albert Street Methodist Church and proceeded to the Mount Thompson crematorium. His son William Crawford was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. References Ann G. Smith, 'Crawford, Thomas William (1865 - 1948)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 8, Melbourne University Press, 1981, pp 141–142. Members of the Australian Senate for Queensland 1865 births 1948 deaths Members of the Australian Senate Nationalist Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia United Australia Party members of the Parliament of Australia Independent members of the Parliament of Australia 20th-century Australian politicians Australian farmers Australian people of English descent Australian people of Irish descent Australian trade unionists Australian printers