Family background
Michael Frederick Bracks was born on 13 August 1892 at Redfern, NSW. He was Salem Bracks (b 1856 in Zahlé, Lebanon, d 1914 in Redfern) and Amelia Sayegh Cladry (b 1867 in Zahlé, Lebanon, d 1957 in Sydney).
Bracks did not marry and lived with his siblings, Edward and Josephine Bracks on Govett Street, Randwick and then at Barry Street, Coogee. Bracks died on 5 September 1957 at the Concord Repatriation General Hospital, aged 65 years. He was buried in the Catholic Mortuary Section of Rookwood Cemetery.
Occupation & interests
Michael Bracks, a First World War veteran conducted his own tailor shop in Elizabeth Street, Redfern. In 1928 he was declared bankrupt, however, in 1934 he was granted a certificate of discharge. He epitomised the Non-Labor alderman of the day – male, middleclass, self employed businessman closely identified with the local community.
Community activity
Michael Frederick Bracks joined the AIF on 1 November 1916 and embarked from Sydney on 10 May 1917. He returned to Sydney on 5 August 1918 and was discharged on 14 March 1920.
Local government service
Michael Bracks was an elected an alderman for Redfern Ward of Redfern Council in 1922-24.
References
‘The Councils’, Sydney Morning Herald, 4 December 1922, p.10, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16049491