John Matthews (Australian politician)
John Cyril James Matthews was an Australian politician. He was a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1981 to 1991.
Matthews was born in Sydney to Cyril Claude Matthews, a rubber technician, and Helen Cummings. He was educated at private schools Christian Brothers College, Rose Bay; St Stanislaus' College, and then the University of Sydney, where he studied for a Master of Pharmacy 1947-50. He worked as a pharmacist, and married Dympna Guthrie on 11 April 1955 at Bathurst; they would have six children. In 1965 he was elected to Bathurst City Council and was immediately elected mayor; he held both positions until 1976, and also served on Southern Mitchell Count Council 1968-77. In 1969 he established Devro Pty Ltd and Uncle Ben's Pet Foods Bathurst, and in 1970 opened Clyde Industries Ltd. He was a member of Mitchell College of Advanced Education and the New South Wales Pharmacy Guild. In 1973 he became a member of the state executive of the Liberal Party, becoming country vice-president in 1974 and state treasurer in 1979.
In 1981, Matthews was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council as a Liberal member. In 1984 he became Opposition Finance Spokesman, a position he held until 1987. Matthews left the Council in 1991.
