People Australia

  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

Norman John Makin (1889–1982)

This article was published:

Norman John Oswald Makin (1889-1982)

Birth: 31 March 1889, Petersham, Sydney, NSW. Son of John Hulme and Elizabeth. Married: Ruby F. Jennings, 1912. They had two sons. Death: 20 July 1982. Methodist.

  • Educated Central Public School Broken Hill, NSW;
  • Started working life delivering parcels at age 13 and supplemented his meagre income by delivering newspapers;
  • Allied himself with cultural movements and gained reputation as an amateur actor and elocutionist;
  • Delegate from Shop Assistants’ Union to Barrier District Assembly, c.1908;
  • Associated with IWW (International Workers of the World) and called in trial to give evidence in defence of Tom Mann in Albury NSW;
  • Moved to South Australia and gained apprenticeship as patternmaker;
  • Officer, Australian Society of Engineers; President, SA ALP 1918-19;
  • Member of House of Representatives, Hindmarsh, 1919-46 (defeated), Sturt 1954-?, Bonython 1955-63 (retired); Contested Barossa SA 1915, Wakefield 1917; Speaker 1929-31, Minister for the Navy and for Munitions, 1941-46, for Aircraft Production, 1945-46;
  • Secretary, Parliamentary Labor Party 1928-29, 1934-41; S.A.'s representative on Federal executive, ALP; Vice-president Eight-Hour Committee in Adelaide; First Australian Ambassador to USA 1946-51; First president, UN Security Council;
  • Cornishman and Methodist lay preacher 

Joan Rydon, A Biographical Register of the Commonwealth Parliament, 1901-1972 (Canberra, 1975); Jim Moss, Sound of Trumpets: history of the labour movement in South Australia (Cowandilla, S. Aust, 1985); Australian Worker, 3 June 1915

Additional Resources

Related Thematic Essay

Related Entries in NCB Sites

Citation details

'Makin, Norman John (1889–1982)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/makin-norman-john-14673/text39428, accessed 29 March 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Norman Makin, n.d.

Norman Makin, n.d.

National Library of Australia, 25968633

Life Summary [details]

Birth

31 March, 1889
Petersham, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Death

20 July, 1982 (aged 93)
Glenelg, Adelaide, South Australia, 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.

Education
Occupation
Awards
Key Events
Legacies
Key Organisations
Political Activism
Workplaces