▁the ▁merchant ▁n avy ▁from ▁ 1 9 3 8 ▁to ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 3 ▁he ▁became ▁Ass istant ▁Secretary ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁South ▁Wales ▁Branch ▁of ▁the ▁Australian ▁Work ers ' ▁Union , ▁and ▁became ▁Federal ▁President ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 0 , ▁serving ▁until ▁ 1 9 8 0 . ▁He ▁was ▁married ▁to ▁Pat , ▁with ▁whom ▁he ▁had ▁four ▁children . ▁An ▁active ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Labor ▁Party ▁in ▁the ▁federal ▁elect or ate ▁of ▁Bla x land ▁and ▁the ▁state ▁seat ▁of ▁Bank st own , ▁he ▁was ▁Vice - Pres ident ▁of ▁the ▁A LP ▁for ▁ten ▁years . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁he ▁was ▁elected ▁as ▁a ▁Labor ▁member ▁to ▁the ▁New ▁South ▁Wales ▁Legisl ative ▁Council . ▁He ▁was ▁Government ▁Wh ip ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 4 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁and ▁O pp osition ▁Wh ip ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 9 . ▁He ▁retired ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 1 . ▁ ▁French ▁died ▁in ▁Sydney ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : 1 9 2 2 ▁birth s ▁Category : 2 0 0 5 ▁death s ▁Category : M embers ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁South ▁Wales ▁Legisl ative ▁Council ▁Category : Austral ian ▁Labor ▁Party ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁Parliament ▁of ▁New ▁South ▁Wales ▁Category : 2 0 th - century ▁Australian ▁polit icians <0x0A> </s> ▁V éré na