James Thomas Finimore (1906-1989)

James Thomas Finimore (known as Jim) was a dentist in Ipswich, and at one time had his dental practice above the Public Trustee building in Brisbane Street.

His wife Merle was the daughter of a former Mayor of Ipswich, Alfred Tully Stephenson and Nellie (Ellen O’Brien).

James Finimore was a prisoner of war in Changi during World War II.  

Jim Finimore was elected Mayor in 1949, but remained in the Labor Party for only a few months after his victory. In October 1949, he voted with the two Citizen’s Party aldermen on a matter of principle and was expelled. The argument concerned the filling of a casual vacancy. During the previous Council term, there had been a vacancy and Labor had supported the idea of selecting the candidate who had polled 11th on the ballot paper, that is, the person who had just missed out. However when a vacancy again occurred in 1949, they wanted to select the next Labor candidate. Jim Finimore thought that it was important to remain consistent and could not agree.

After his expulsion from the party, he remained Mayor and was then re-elected several times as an independent, successfully heading a Council with a Labor majority. He remained Mayor for almost 24 years – from 1949 to 1973.

James Finimore was closely involved in many community organisations, including Ipswich Grammar School, Red Cross and West End Rugby League Club.