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Callin, George Edwin (1886–1943)

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George Edwin Lewney Callin (1886-1943) gas employee, trade union leader 

Birth 2 October 1886 at Agneash, Lonan, Isle of Man, England, son of John James Callin (1839-1889), labourer, and Jane, née Lewney (1843-1917). Marriage: 2 July 1913 with Methodist forms at Erambie station, Molong, New South Wales, to Clara Annie Quilliam (1887-1967), who was born at Castletown, Isle of Man. They had two sons. Death: 9 July 1943 in Sydney, NSW. Religion: Presbyterian. 

  • In 1891 was living at Lonan with five siblings and their widowed mother, who was receiving poor relief. Ten years later he was a farmer’s servant — horseman — at Conchan.
  • Arrived in Sydney aboard the Pericles in January 1909. Worked as farmer. Was a fireman residing at Mortlake in 1913.
  • Active in Federated Gas Employees’ Union of Australia (NSW branch). Delegate to management committee, 1924. President NSW branch from 1926 to 1932. Federal president of union and secretary of NSW branch from July 1932 to his death.
  • Active in Concord Branch of Australian Labor Party; delegate to annual conferences. Director of Labor Daily (Sydney) 1931-1933 and of Labor Motor Funerals Ltd 1935. A prominent supporter of J. T. Lang, he was also a director of Lang’s Century newspaper.
  • Collapsed and died of heart disease on Central Railway station while waiting for a train.

Sources
NSW Labor party, Labor Year Book, 1933, 1934.

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Citation details

'Callin, George Edwin (1886–1943)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/callin-george-edwin-32996/text41120, accessed 31 May 2023.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

2 October, 1886
Agneash, Isle of Man, England

Death

9 July, 1943 (aged 56)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

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.

Passenger Ship
Occupation
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Political Activism