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Coe, Thomas (Tom) (1908–1977)

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Thomas (Tom) Coe (1908- 1977) textile worker and trade union leader 

Birth: 1908 at Byker, Bolton, England, son of Robert Coe and Mary Jane, née Ross. Marriage: 1932 in Victoria, to Ivy May Watson (1915-1978). They had three daughters and one son. Death: 17 November 1977 at Moorabbin hospital, Bentleigh, Victoria. 

  • Was a farm labourer in England. Arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia, aboard the Jervis Bay on 28 November 1929. Moved to Victoria where he worked as a labourer. By 1934 was a textile worker living at Coburg, Melbourne.
  • Joined Textile Workers Union in December in 1940. Was a union official for 22 years. Vice president (Melbourne Division) 1944/45?, president 1946/7?; vice-president (Victorian branch) 1947; president (Victorian Branch) 1948/9?; State organiser 1947-1950; State secretary 1950-1969; State management committee 1941-50.
  • Australian Labor Party delegate 1942-69. Trades Hall Council delegate 1942-65; Executive member, Melbourne Trades Hall Council 1958/59?.
  • Trustee Victorian and Melbourne union branches for many years. ALP executive 1955-60. Federal Council delegate 1957-69. Federal management committee delegate 1959-69.
  • International Labour Organization Delegate. Australian Council of Trades Unions delegate.
  • Retired from union in 1969.

Sources
Textile Topics, February 1978.

Citation details

'Coe, Thomas (Tom) (1908–1977)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/coe-thomas-tom-33064/text41226, accessed 29 January 2023.

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