People Australia

Reg Bishop, Australian Information Service, 1975

National Library of Australia, 40222140

Reginald Bishop (1913-1999) clerk, trade union leader and federal senator 

Birth: 4 February 1913 at Adelaide, South Australia, son of Enoch John Bishop, bootmaker, and Minnie, née Martlow. Marriage: 24 October 1936 to Adelaide Constance Field at Our Lady of Dolours Church, Kingswood. They had two sons and two daughters. Death: 3 July 1999 at Daw Park, Adelaide. Religion: Catholic 

• Educated at state schools. 1927 began clerical work at the South Australian Railways Islington workshop.
• Joined Australian Labor Party in 1934. 1937- 1956 officer South Australian of Branch Australian Railways Union.
• Served with RAAF in Darwin and Borneo 1943-1946.
• 1956-62 secretary, United Trades and Labour Council of SA, Commissioner, S.A. Board of Industry, member, SA Advisory Committee on Workers’ Compensation, executive member, Australian Council of Trade Unions, 1956-62.
• Member, ACTU delegation to China 1958. Advisor International Labor Organization Conference, Geneva, 1960.
• Senator 1962 to 1981. Member Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs 1970-72.
• Minister for Repatriation and Minister assisting the Defence Minister, 1972-1974. Postmaster-General 1974-1975.

Sources
Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate, vol. 3, 1962-1983, University of New (Sydney, 2010)