People Australia

Marin Martin Alagich (1919-2008) schoolteacher

Born: 26 May 1919, Kotor, Yugoslavia. Son of Joseph Alagich and Tritona nee Smodlaka. Married: Rina Rigoni in 1941. They had two sons. Died: 20 October 2008, New South Wales.

• Spent childhood in Yugoslavia where he completed 1st year High School at Makarska, Yugoslavia.
• Came to Australia in 1932 to join father (Joseph) who had immigrated earlier, in 1924 after separation from wife.
• Educated at Alma Primary School, Broken Hill, 1933-34; Broken Hill High School, 1935-37. Member of First Grade Football team in Broken Hill and winner of many sporting prizes.
• 1936, Foundation secretary of  Yugoslav Youth Club in Broken Hill. Foundation chairman of string band, 'Tamburitza'.
• 1938, Foundation secretary Soccer Association Broken Hill; Secretary and Captain 'Napredak' Soccer Club.
• 1938, miner, South Broken Hill.
• 1939, Delegate to Municipal Council.
• 1939, joined ALP Broken Hill.
• 1941, joined Australian Military Forces.
• Following recovery from wrist injury trained as a turner-machinist in Broken Hill under auspices of Commonwealth Defence Training Scheme. Transferred to Sydney, Manpower Directive in 1942, shop steward, Westinghouse Brake, Concord West. 1943, shop steward, Kingsford Smith Civil Aviation Workshop, Ultimo.
• 1949-50, fitter and turner, Warringah Brick and Pipe Works, member of the Amalgamated Engineers' Union.
• 1950, foreman, Brookvale Brewing Co.
• 1954, refrigeration plant operator, Sydney Technical College.
• 1956-57, worked with Ferris Bros. Radio and TV.
• Teacher, Manly Boys' High School 1959-79 (retired).
• Teachers' Federation representative, 1961-63.
• First class machinist diploma, Manly Evening College 1955; intermediate certificate 1956-57; Sydney Teachers' College 1958;
• Interpreters-translator course, University of NSW, completed in 1975;
• Joined Dee Why branch ALP in late 1940s. Transferred to Brookvale branch on formation and was  Secretary, 1954-57. 
• ALP delegate to municipal, state and federal council 1954?-57? Member of ALP policy committee on Immigration and Ethnic Affairs 1978-79, 1981-82 & 1985; Treasurer, ALP Manly Branch, 1980-82; Life member ALP 1981.
• Secretary, Youth Club Brookvale, 1945 and member of management committee 1947.
• Secretary, Yugoslav Social and Cultural Club, Brookvale, 1949-51;
• Treasurer, Yugoslav Cultural and Social Club 'Zora', Sydney, 1945 and Secretary, 1947-48.
• Foundation secretary, Yugoslav Youth Club in Sydney 'Lola', 1945-48.
• Secretary, Yugoslav Soccer Club (Metropolitan League), 1946-49;
• organised Australian tour of Yugoslav Soccer team 'Hajduk' 1949.
• Secretary, Warringah Soccer Association,1950;
• Secretary, Dee Why Soccer Club 1950;
• Secretary, Manly Warringah Soccer Association, 1952.
• Assistant secretary, Yugoslav Soccer Club, Warriewood 1952, member of management committee 1953, Secretary, 1959-60.  Following club name change to Yugal Soccer Club, Secretary, 1961-63 and 1972-73; Assistant secretary, 1966;  member of management committee 1964 and 1967-71; Secretary, Welfare and Reception Committee 1968-71;
• Vice-President, Yugal Prague Club, 1975-77, member of management committee, Yugal Prague Soccer Club, 1976. President, Yugal Handball Club, 1976-77. Major role in establishing Yugal’s new premises in 1978. Liaison Officer, Yugal Soccer Social Club, 1979; Liaison Officer, Yugal Club, 1980;
• Vice-President, Sydney Football Club 1973-74.
• Secretary, Yugoslav Social and Cultural Organisation, Warriewood, 1953-55, and member of management committee, 1956.
• Executive member, Yugoslav Immigrant's Association, 1945-1949.
• Involved in voluntary settlement programmes for Immigration Department, 1956;
• social and welfare work within Yugoslav and Italian communities in Brookvale, 1957;
• contact worker, Good Neighbour Council, 1958-59 and active worker 1960-62, 1964-67, 1969, 1971.
• Member of Cooperative for Aborigines, Glebe, 1964 and 1968;
• member, Aboriginal Child's Advancement Society 1968.
• First secretary, Reception and Welfare Committee formed in cooperation with Immigration Department, 1968;
• member, Department of Immigration Education sub-committee, 1973; member of Al Grassby's Education Task Force, 1973  and 1976. Involved in establishing Ethnic Communities Council NSW, 1974;
• Executive member, 1985. Secretary, Council for National Communities from Yugoslavia, 1974-77;
• President, Coordinating Committee of National Communities from Yugoslavia 1978-82; committee member, 1985.
• Involved in establishment of Yugoslav programmes on Radio 2EA 1975; Coordinator, 1977-78, resigned 1978.
• Member, Secondary Schools Board Advisory Committee, 1978.
• Member, Ethnic Communities' Council of NSW, 1978; executive member, 1979-82.
• Commissioner, Ethnic Affairs Commission NSW, 1981-84. Organised 'Yugoslav Pioneer Settlers' function and photo exhibition, 1988.
• Frequent visitor and interpreter-translator for Yugoslav patients in North Ryde Psychiatric Centre and Callan Park Hospital; interpreter-translator for Yugoslavs under police arrest.
• Treasurer, Community Youth Support Scheme, 1978-79.
• Justice of the Peace, 1954.
• Awarded Sports Medallion to commemorate 50 years of Yugoslav soccer 1969.
• Awarded British Empire Medal 1979, “has given outstanding service to the integration of Yugoslav migrants into the Australian community and has been prominent in Soccer administration for many years”.
• Awarded Order of Australia Medal 1986; 
• Author of 'Early Croatian Settlement in Eastern Australia' in Encyclopaedia of the Australian people, 1989;
• contributor to Warringah History with 'People from Yugoslavia'.
• Owner of “one of the finest collection of history papers, documents and over 5000 photos”.

'A brief biography'; Curriculum Vitae pp 1-10.