Father of Canberra
John Gale
Six months after the March 10, 2001, unveiling of the large bronze sculpture of John Gale, a controversy erupted in Queanbeyan (Sister City of Canberra) when a Queanbeyan City Council, councillor declared, that John Gale (1831-1929) was not the Father of Canberra, and insisted that the title belonged to Sir Austin Chapman.
But Sir Austin Chapman MP declared:
“... if any man were entitled to be known as the Father of Canberra, it was veteran Queanbeyan journalist John Gale.“ 1
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