People Australia

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

Browse People:

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.

Anear, Richard Arnold (Dick) (1920–2003)

This article was published:

Richard Arnold (Dick) Anear (1920–2003) labourer, PMG linesman, trade union leader and Communist

Birth: 27 August 1920, Charters Towers, Qld. Son of Richard Arnold Anear, labourer, and Maud Elener, née Hall. Marriage: 1951 in Cairns to Maria Rosa (Mary) Penna. They had one son and one daughter. Death: 4 September 2003 Greenslopes, Queensland.

  • Began working life, 1934, in butcher’s shop at Chillagoe, north Queensland. Then worked at Chillagoe Copper Smelters before enlisting in Second AIF, seeing service in New Guinea and Borneo.
  • After war worked as a PMG linesman, before returning to meat industry as freezer at Borthwicks plant at Murarrie, Brisbane.
  • 1962, elected Secretary, Meatworkers’ Board of Control, holding position until 1979 at which time elected Branch Secretary. Branch President, 1975-1979 and member of South District Council.
  • 1981 elected Federal Vice-President, Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union Retired 1985. Assisted in overcoming wages division between incentive and non-incentive workers and in establishing a union run provident fund.
  • 1979-1985, member of executive of Queensland Trades and Labor Council.
  • 1939 Joined CPA. 1949, elected full time secretary of north Queensland district, CPA.
  • Wife, Mary, ‘a staunch and devoted trade unionist in her own right’. Worked at Provincial Traders (now Inghams) for 14 years being local board secretary for 8 years.

Resources
Meatworker (Qld), March/April 1981; October 1985

Additional Resources

Citation details

'Anear, Richard Arnold (Dick) (1920–2003)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/anear-richard-arnold-dick-25520/text33864, accessed 29 January 2023.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012