People Australia

Thomas Fox, n.d.

Thomas (Tom) Fox (1876-1951) miner, trade union official and politician

Birth: 23 October 1876 at Scarsdale, Victoria, son of native-born John Joseph Fox (1876-1951, farmer, and Roseanna Mary, née Higgins (1843-1930), born at Tullamore, Kings County [Offaly], Ireland. Marriage: 5 February 1908 at Gordon, Victoria, to native-born Eliza Marion Sterritt (1882-1959). They had two daughters and one son. Death: 20 April 1951 in hospital at Fremantle, Western Australia. Religion: Catholic. 

• Played VFL football for Carlton in 1902.
• By 1904 had moved to Western Australia and lived at Davyhurst. Secretary of Westralian Goldfields Federated Miners’ Union, Davyhurst branch, from 1906 to 1915.
• In 1915, a member of Kalgoorlie and Boulder branch of Federated Miners’ Union, was working at the South Kalgurli mine. Trustee of branch in 1918.
• In 1919 moved to work on wharves at Fremantle. Joined Fremantle Lumpers’ Union (FLU). From 1924 to 1925 was president of FLU then secretary until 1935.
• Resisted application of Beeby award and ‘Dog Collar Act’ requiring workers to take out contracts. Also resisted attempts of Waterside Workers’ Federation to collect dues in Fremantle.
• Elected labor member of the WA Legislative Assembly for the seat of South Fremantle in a by-election on 4 May 1935. Held the seat until his death.

Sources
David Black and Geoffrey Bolton, Biographical Register of members of the parliament of Western Australia, vol 2, 1930-2010 (Perth, 2011); Westralian Worker, 11 July 1941; Union Membership files: acc 1101/1162/1912, 1101/371/1915 and 1101/202/1916 (South Kalgurli), 1101/357/1917 (trustee).