Ray Thorburn

Raymond William "Ray" Thorburn (15 November 1930 – 30 January 1986) was an Australian politician. Born in Sydney, he was educated at Sydney Technical College before becoming an electrical engineer. He was the president of Sutherland Shire Council from 1971 to 1972, when was elected to the Australian House of Representatives for the Labor Party, defeating Liberal member Don Dobie for the seat of Cook. He held the seat until his defeat by Dobie in 1975, and made three unsuccessful attempts to retake it. He remains the only Laborite to have ever held the seat. He died in 1986.