People Australia

Samuel Davey, 1924

Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW), 1 September 1924, p 1

Samuel Joseph Jenkin Davey (1899-1955) winding-engine driver, alderman, health inspector and trade union official 

Birth, 11 January 1889 at Kooringa, South Australia, son of Samuel Jenkin Davey (1866-1900), boot store manager, and Elizabeth Rowe, née Pascoe (1863-1953). Both parents had been born in SA. Marriage: 7 May 1913 at Thomas Street Methodist church, Broken Hill, New South Wales, to Clara Inez Nankivell (1891-1938), born in South Australia. They had one daughter. Death: 13 April 1966 at Broken Hill. Religion: Methodist. 

• Went to Broken Hill, NSW, with his parents about 1890. “Took his first job on the Proprietary Mine, working seven days a week” for a weekly wage of eighteen shillings and eight pence. Later became an engine-driver.
• General president, Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen's Association. President, Barrier branch of FED&FA. President, Broken Hill Sub-branch FED&FA for two terms.
• President, Barrier District Assembly of ALP including representation at anti-conscription conference in Sydney in 1917 when conscriptionists in Labor Party were expelled. Described in 1923 as a “staunch advocate of One Big Union.
• Elected alderman on municipal council in January 1919. In a lengthy address in December that year he supported the Bolsheviks in Russia. Unsuccessfully contested preselection as Labor candidate for State seat of Sturt in 1920 and 1924.
• In February 1928 he was successful in examinations in diploma courses in public health at Sydney Technical College. Immediately resigned from council.
• Assistant Broken Hill health inspector from November 1931. In January 1937 he was appointed chief health inspector.
• Member of the hospital board from 1953 and sometime vice-chairman.
• Retired as Chief Health Officer in March 1956 and was then appointed health consultant.
• Was a member of Willyama Masonic Lodge, a trustee of the Ancient Order of Foresters, and a trustee of Thomas street Methodist Church. In retirement was a keen bowls enthusiast.

Sources
Australian Worker (Sydney), 20 June 1923 p 1; Barrier Daily Miner (Broken Hill, NSW), 13 April 1966, p 1; Barrier Daily Truth (Broken Hill, NSW), 14 April 1966, p 3.