Family background
William Sparkes was born in Sydney in 1872. His father was George Sparkes, also an alderman on Camperdown Council.
William Sparkes was married to Mary Ann Denning (1865-1957) at Sydney in 1893; they had four daughters and a son. He died on 27 April 1937, aged 65.
Community activity
William Sparkes was Secretary, Summer Hill branch, Protestant Federation, Secretary Albion Tent No 70 Glebe Independent Order of Rechabites for 31 years.
Local government service
William Sparkes was an alderman on Camperdown Council in 1904-07. He addressed 12 questions to Mayor Mallett who responded that they were ‘frivolous and vexatious’. Sparkes retorted he ‘did not expect anything better than an ignorant pig like the Mayor’. He was compelled to withdraw the remark.
References
Evening News 26 April 1905 p. 6
Obituary, Sydney Morning Herald 1 May 1937 p. 23