People Australia

Bilney, Kathleen Joy (Kay), née Rees, previously Bateman, then Wyatt (1934- ) nurse and trade unionist 

Birth: 5 April 1934 at Bristol, England, daughter of Frank Edward Rees (1901-1980), trade unionist, painter and decorator, and Doris Helen, née Stock (1905-1995), dressmaker. Marriages: (1) 17 February 1951 at Holy Cross Church, Bedminster, Bristol, to Grantley Ralph Bateman (1924-), branch manager, vermin control. The marriage was dissolved. (2) 19 June 1956 at Zion Methodist Church, Bedminster Down, to Desmond Francis Wyatt (1917-?), dock labourer later merchant seaman. (3) 1975 to Leonard Bilney, public servant. 

• Educated at Merrywood Grammar School, England (on a scholarship).
• Worked as a telephonist (wholesale grocers) in 1951, and was later a telephonist with the General Post Office. In 1952 she joined the Committee of the Post Office Union; was members’ representative in discipline cases for four years.
• Moved to Adelaide, South Australia, in 1963; worked at Coles in Elizabeth, and became a member of the Retail Association Union.
• In 1967 she began nursing training and joined the Public Service Association. Organised other nurses to campaign for better conditions and to get an award.
• In 2006 she was spokeswoman for the Fair Go for David Hicks organisation.

Sources
Sydney Morning Herald, 8 October 2006.