Get a look into the colourful life of one of the most passionate and controversial figures in Australian federal politics
Get the MemoirI don’t fear John Howard, and I don’t fear Andrew Peacock, either.
I don’t even fear Wilson Tuckey!”
~ Bob Hawke
Charles Wilson Tuckey has had a few monikers in his lifetime. Paul Keating called him a “foul mouthed grub” among other things, but it was the name “Ironbar” that stuck after an incident in Carnarvon at Tuckey’s Port Hotel. A publican before his 21st birthday, Wilson was a prominent Carnarvon businessman elected to council in 1964 then voted Mayor, a Shire President who spent 16 years in local government including as president of the Country Shire Councils’ Association of WA, and latterly the Federal Member for the seat of O’Connor for 30 years.
Often regarded as one of the most passionate and controversial figures in Australian federal politics, Wilson held multiple shadow ministries in Opposition then served in the Howard Government. He was Minister for Forestry, and Conservation and later Fisheries (21.10.1998 to 26.11.2001), then became Minister Assisting the Prime Minister (21.10.1998 to 26.11.2001) and Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government (25.1.2002 to 7.10.2003).
Wilson is equally passionate about racehorses and his relatives. The Tuckeys were one of Western Australia’s first families, becoming pioneers in timber, shipping, transport, tourism and fishing in the Peel region.
Wilson “Ironbar” Tuckey’s colourful life of public service and family is a tale of his time.
What You'll Read About
1
Prologue
2
24 Harborne Street
3
National Service
4
Becoming a Grocer
5
The Koorda Hotel
6
The Boomerang Hotel
7
My Girl Jenny
8
A Love Affair with Cars
9
Carnarvon and The Port Hotel
10
The History of My Local Government Career
11
Law And Order in the Pub Game
12
Racehorses and Bookmakers
13
Flying High: Expanding Around Carnarvon
14
Becoming a Backbencher
15
Life And Lessons in Parliament
16
The John Dawkins Affair
17
The Carleton-Walsh Report
18
The Health Portfolio
19
Me, The Forests and Fire
20
The South Tomi Pursuit
21
Wool, Wheat: The Wins
22
Turnbull: The Fall of a Leader
23
A Civilian Again
24
Travelling and New Horizons
25
Now - 2022
26
The Tuckey Family Tree
27
Media Collage
Purchase the Memoir
Ironbar A Memoir
Paperback
Wilson Tuckey is often regarded as one of the most passionate and controversial figures in Australian federal politics. This memoir dives into his colourful life of public service and family.