People Australia

George Herron (1901-1973) fitter and turner, trade union official and conciliation commissioner 

Birth: 1901 at Wickham, Newcastle, New South Wales, son of Ralph Herron (1869-1936), coal miner, and Mary Emma, née Armstrong (1878-1963), who were both born at Durham, England. Marriage: 1925 at Weston, NSW, to native-born Flora Dora Stewart (1901-1965). They had one son. Death: 15 February 1973 in hospital at Randwick, Sydney; usual residence, Bondi. 

• George’s grandfather George Herron senior (1846-1918), born at Shotley Bridge, Durham, England, was a coal miner and hotelier at Wickham, NSW, and active in the Labour movement. He was one of the rescue team recovering entombed miners in the Borehole Colliery disaster of 1889. Young George’s father Ralph was a pioneer of the district of Kurri Kurri, and a notable community worker.
• Young Herron worked in coal mining industry in the Maitland District. He joined the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE), Maitland Branch, in 1917 and worked as shop steward in various shops.
• President of the ASE, Maitland branch. Member, Northern District Coal Reference Board and alternative member of the Central Coal Reference Board, Sydney. Representative, Maitland Branch, Newcastle District Committee. Organiser, Division No. 5, 1942-49.
• Committee Member, Selection of Candidates under the Engineering Trades Dilution Scheme and alternative member on the Trades Committee.
• Commonwealth Arbitration Inspector from 1949 to 1954.
• Appointed, State Conciliation Commissioner in 1955.
• Cause of death: mid-brain haemorrhage, cerebro-vascular disease, metastatic carcinoma, primary of right kidney.

Sources
AEU Monthly Journal, April 1955 p 23.