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Thomas William (Tom) Canty (1895–1987)

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Thomas William (Tom) Canty (1895-1987) clerk, public servant and trade union leader 

Birth: 31 March 1895 at North Carlton, Victoria, son of Patrick Joseph Canty (1856-1922), a police officer, later superintendent, born in Adare, Limerick, Ireland, and his first wife Margaret, née Clarke (1863-1897), who had been born at Fitzroy, Melbourne. Marriage: 10 April 1920 at St Joseph’s church, South Yarra, Melbourne, to native-born Mary Ann Virtue (1894-1927). They had four daughters and five sons. Death: 11 November 1987 at Balwyn, Victoria. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Joined Commonwealth Public Service in 1910 working in Postmaster General’s Department and Taxation.
  • In 1915-16 he was honorary secretary of the South Yarra branch of the Australian Catholic Federation.
  • In 1934 was councillor for Victorian branch of the Administrative & Clerical Officers’ Association (ACOA). He was vice president of Victorian branch in 1939-40 and 1942-43, and president in 1940-41, 1943-44 and 1944-47. He was secretary of the Victorian branch from 1948 until 1955 when he was appointed full-time secretary/treasurer, holding position until retirement in 1960.
  • Executive councillor and delegate to interstate conferences. Branch journal officer 1948-1957. From 1957 he was chairman of directors of ACOA Cooperative Housing Societies.
  • Cause of death: bronchopneumonia and oesophageal stricture

Sources
Bruce Juddery, White collar power: a history of the A.C.O.A. (Sydney, 1980); Federal Public Service Journal, January 1959, May 1960.

Citation details

'Canty, Thomas William (Tom) (1895–1987)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/canty-thomas-william-tom-32963/text41070, accessed 19 April 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

31 March, 1895
Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Death

11 November, 1987 (aged 92)
Balwyn, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Cause of Death

pneumonia

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.

Occupation
Key Organisations
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