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Joseph (Joe) Coote (1877–1956)

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Joseph (Joe) Coote (1877-1956) labourer, sawmill worker and trade union leader 

Birth: 1877 in Sydney, son of native-born John Coote (1856-1910), a blacksmith, and Sarah Ann, née Stathers (1856-1891), born in West Ham, London, England. Marriage: 1907 in Sydney, New South Wales, to native-born Alice Jane Buckley (1886-1968). They had four daughters and two sons. Death 20 November 1956 in his residence at Alexandria, Sydney. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Joe’s great grandfather was a convict Joseph Coote/Coots (c.1795-1865).
  • Worked as rock chopper, pick and shovel labourer laying gas mains, waterfront lumper, farmhand, sawmill labourer, treefeller in Queensland, timbercutter at Kosciusko, NSW.
  • Active as executive member and president of Sawmill and Timber Yard Employees’ Union; delegate to NSW Trades and Labor Council, and trade union congresses.
  • In 1909 was elected to coveted position of assistant caretaker of Sydney Trades Hall.
  • 1910 initiated formation of Watchmen, Cleaners’ Union, which merged with other unions in 1915 to become Federated Miscellaneous Workers Union of Australia. Organiser-secretary from 1910 until deposed in 1924. Subsequently censured for having membership dues in arrears.
  • Freelance industrial advocate for unions from 1924 to 1951.
  • President Caterers’ Waitresses’ Union 1925 and 1931.
  • At end of life was a pensioner.

Sources
Margo Beasley, Wharfies: the history of the Waterside Workers’ Federation (Rushcutters Bay, 1996); Miscellaneous Worker, December 1956; Federation News, September 1958, September 1983; Minutes of NSW Branch (1920-1940) and Newcastle Branch (1928-1950), financial records, rule books, membership records (1916-1944), award files, photographs and medallion presented to Joe Coote (1912) held at the Noel Butlin Archives, ANU..

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Citation details

'Coote, Joseph (Joe) (1877–1956)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/coote-joseph-joe-33114/text41293, accessed 2 May 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1877
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Death

20 November, 1956 (aged ~ 79)
Alexandria, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation
Key Organisations