Family background
Wilfred Joseph Ratcliffe was born 30 May 1880 at Pyrmont, NSW, the son of Wilfred Joseph Ratcliffe and Catherine Meaney. He married Ellen Agnes Bailey (1881-1966) at Redfern, NSW, on 9 February 1904 and they had 1 son. They lived at 3 Stirling Street, Redfern.
Ratcliffe died on 24 March1935 at Balmain South, NSW, aged 55 years and was buried in the Catholic Section at Rookwood Cemetery.
Occupation & interests
Tram driver was a common occupation among Redfern alderman, indicative of their strong links with the trade union movement. Wilfred Ratcliffe, a member of the Tramways Employees Union, progressed from conductor to tram driver. He joined the Redfern branch of the Australian Labor Party and his election to Redfern Council became a stepping stone to a lengthy and successful career in state parliament.
Parliamentary service
Wilfred Ratcliffe was a Labor Party member of the NSW Legislative Assembly from 1922 until 1932, representing the districts of Botany (1922–27), Alexandria (1927–30) and Barwon (1930–32). He was Secretary of Public Works and Minister for Railways for four months in 1927, during the last months of the first Lang government.
Local government service
Wilfred Joseph Ratcliffe was an alderman on Redfern Council, representing Redfern Ward, in 1920-22.
References
‘Municipal Elections’, Sydney Morning Herald, 2 June 1917, p.7, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15744609