People Australia

Hart, Albert Leslie (Les) (1906-1990) tally clerk, nurse and trade union official

Birth: 1906 at Sydney, New South Wales, son of native-born parents David Richmond Hart (1868-1942), attendant, and Katherine Janet, née McKay (1870-1961). Marriage: 1928 at Sydney to Sydney-born Gwendoline Adele Puddicombe (1908-1999). They had three daughters. Death: 13 April 1990 in his residence at Markwell road, Bulahdelah, NSW. 

• Started work at age 14 as a clerk for a timber firm and was later a tally clerk. Country representative for Cowlishaw Bros, timber merchants from the age of 20 for five years. Accepted similar position with Geo. Hudson Timber Merchants until 1930.
• Commenced work at Callan Park Hospital in 1932. Became registered nurse in 1935.
• General Secretary of Trained Mental Nurses’ Association from 1942, which amalgamated with Nurses’ Association in 1945 and he continued in the same position until his retirement in 1968.
• Visited Soviet Union and wrote article for The Lamp, December 1965.
• Cause of death: acute lobar pneumonia, chronic obstructive airways disease and cardiac failure.

Sources
The Lamp, March 1965, December 1965, August 1968.