People Australia

Philip Healy (1903-1978) waterside worker and trade union official

Birth: 2 November 1903 at Castlemaine, Victoria, and registered as Phil, son of Antonio [Antony] Loritz [or Loretz] (1870-1927), a carter, later contractor and labourer, born at Lombardy, Italy, naturalized in 1897, who moved to Mt Margaret, Western Australia about 1915, and native-born Sarah, née Saunders (1879-1957). Marriage: 6 October 1926 at Brisbane, Queensland, to Queensland-born Alice Hardsman (1904-2001). They had six daughters and two sons. Death: 22 April 1978 at Royal Brisbane Hospital. Religion: Anglican. 

• Worked on wharves from about 1920, employed by Port Phillip Stevedores, Melbourne.
• In 1924 moved to Brisbane, where he went by the name of Philip Healy, and gained work on the waterfront.
• Joined Waterside Workers’ Federation (WWF) in 1920. Participated in the significant waterside workers strike of 1928 and was later victimised, often by not being given the opportunity to do the casual work available.
• Executive member of the WWF’s Brisbane branch, in 1937 and later treasurer. Federal Councillor of the WWF in 1950 and from 1954-70. Vigilant Officer, WWF, Brisbane branch, 1943 to 1951, and 1953 to 1958. Secretary, WWF, Brisbane branch, 1952 and served eleven of the years up until his retirement in 1970.
• WWF delegate to New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Conference in 1961. WWF delegate, to Trades and Labor Council.
• Union delegate, Queensland central executive of the ALP from 1958 to 1970. Senior Vice-President, WWF, Brisbane branch.
• Cause of death: disseminated carcinoma, anaplastic carcinoma of the gall bladder and chest infection.

Sources
Maritime Worker, 2 August 1968; 5 August 1970, 9 May 1978.