Grant Woodhams

The Honourable Grant Woodhams AM
28th Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
In office 6 November 2008 – 9 March 2013
Preceded by	Fred Riebeling
Succeeded by	Michael Sutherland
Constituency	Greenough (2005–2008) Moore (2008–2014)
Personal details
Born	Grant Allen Woodhams (1952-08-07) 7 August 1952 (age 72) Sydney
Nationality	Australian
Political party	The Nationals
Spouse	Gabrielle Woodhams
Children	Phoebe Woodhams

Grant Allen Woodhams AM (born 7 August 1952 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian former politician. He was The Nationals member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from February 2005 to March 2013.^[1]

Career

Arriving in Western Australia in 1967, Woodhams was schooled in Perth and Albany he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Murdoch University before starting work with ABC radio.^[2] After working with the ABC in Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, Woodhams returned to Western Australia in 1990 to work in the Mid West. He left the ABC in 2004 to pursue his master's degree in Education.

At the 2005 state election, Woodhams defeated one-term Liberal MP Jamie Edwards to take the seat of Greenough for the Nationals. He was re-elected at the 2008 state election, again defeating an incumbent Liberal MP, Gary Snook, this time for the seat of Moore, following Greenough's abolition. Woodhams was elected Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly in November 2008.^[3] During his first term in the Legislative Assembly, Woodhams's style of oratory became renowned within the chamber for his adaptations of poems and songs, particularly in his budget reply speeches.^[4] While Speaker, further poetry was not forthcoming, but he concluded his valedictory speech in 2012 with his own version of "Clancy of the Overflow", entitled "Woodie, the Speaker of the Overflow".^[5]

Personal life

Woodhams announced in 2012 that he would retire at the 2013 state election to spend more time with his family.^[6] He was succeeded by Shane Love who went on to hold the seat for the Nationals in 2013.^[7]

References

1. "WA Parliament Members List – Mr Grant Woodhams". 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
2. "National Party of WA – Mr Grant Woodhams". 2008. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
3. Tim Clarke (6 November 2008). "Woodhams appointed WA speaker". watoday.com.au. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
4. "Plenty is never Greenough: Grant Woodhams' greatest hits". Houses & Motions. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
5. "Moore than Greenough". Houses & Motions. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
6. "MP Grant Woodhams to retire at next election". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
7. "WA Votes 2013 – Moore". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.

Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Jamie Edwards	Member for Greenough 2005–2008	Succeeded by Seat abolished
Preceded by Gary Snook	Member for Moore 2008–2013	Succeeded by Shane Love
Preceded by Fred Riebeling	Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly 2008–2013	Succeeded by Michael Sutherland