Renshaw, J.B. (John Brophy), 1909 – 1987

J. B. (John Brophy) Renshaw (1909-1987), commonly known as Jack, was the first N.S.W. Labor Premier from a rural seat. Born into a Catholic family at Wellington in Central-West N.S.W., he grew up in Binnaway. He was educated at the Patrician Brothers' Holy Cross College at Ryde in Sydney.

During his parliamentary career as member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seat of Castlereagh (1941-1980) he served as Deputy Premier (1959-1964), Treasurer (1959-1965, 1976-1980) responsible for nine Budgets, and held various other ministerial appointments. Renshaw was a member of and led several N.S.W. trade and parliamentary delegations overseas, including a visit to the People's Republic of China in the late 1970s. In 1979 he was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia for services to politics and government.

Retiring from politics in 1980, Renshaw took up the position of N.S.W. Agent General in London until 1983. His Private Secretary in the Treasury portfolio, Jim Curran, retained for Labor the seat of Castlereagh vacated by his former boss. Renshaw married twice; widowed with a son, Tony, by his first wife, he married Marjorie Mackay in 1966 and the couple had a son, John Brophy Renshaw Jnr, born in 1971.