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Peter Duffie (1914–1982)

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Peter Duffie (1914-1982) miner, trade union official and alderman

Birth: 1914 at Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland, son of Peter Duffie (1889-1957), miner, and Agnes Young, née Naysmith (1889-1971). Marriage: 18 November 1933 at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Cessnock, New South Wales, to native-born Margaret Tomlinson (1914-1995). They had three sons. Death: 5 January 1982 in his residence, Cessnock, New South Wales. Religion: Methodist.

  • Arrived in Australia with his parents and siblings aboard the Berrima in 1922. Family lived at Kearsley, New South Wales, where Peter senior worked as a shiftman.
  • Peter junior was miners' lodge president, Aberdare East (NSW).
  • Alderman, Cessnock Council for 9 years.
  • Elected member Miners' Federation Central Council 1959, retaining position with one break until retirement in 1974.
  • Cause of death: secondary metastases, primary bowel carcinoma.

Sources
Pete Thomas, Miners in the 1970s: a narrative history of the Miners’ Federation (Sydney, 1983).

Citation details

'Duffie, Peter (1914–1982)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/duffie-peter-33832/text42370, accessed 25 May 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1914
Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland

Death

5 January, 1982 (aged ~ 68)
Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

cancer (bowel)

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.

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