People Australia

Thomas Charles (Tom) Jewell (1864-1948) miner, tramway employee and trade union official

Birth: 11 March 1864 at Creswick, Victoria, son of Thomas Jewell (1831-1865), corn dealer, born at Helston, Cornwall, England, and Margaret, née Quinn (1849-1904), born at Templemichael, Longford, Ireland. Marriage: 13 August 1891 at South Yarra, Victoria, by a Bible Christian minister, to native-born Helena Garton (1866-1959). They had a daughter and two sons. Death: 5 October 1948 in his home at Dinsdale street, Albert Park, Melbourne. Religion: Presbyterian. 

• Miner; steward, Creswick Miners’ Association, at 18 years of age.
• Joined tramway service and worked on South Melbourne line from 1890 to about 1912. Elected vice-president and acting secretary of the Victorian Tramway Employees’ Association. Secretary of No. 1 branch (northern side of Yarra River) from 1912 to 1936, when he retired from position.
• Worked towards and achieved amalgamation of Melbourne tramway employees into one united union - until 1930 Melbourne had two tramways unions, one for all employees south of the Yarra River and the other for employees working on the city side of the river.
• After amalgamation he became general secretary of Victorian branch of the Australian Tramway and Motor Omnibus Employees ‘Association (AT&MOEA). Stated to be primarily responsible for the formation of the Federal Council of Tramway Unions and became federal secretary.
• Foundation member of Albert Park branch of the Australian Labor Party.
• Secretary of the Australian Natives Association (ANA), Albert Park branch. Took keen interest in friendly society work.
• Cause of death: broncho pneumonia (7 days) and myocardial degeneration (3 years).

Sources
ALP Victoria Branch. Central Exec. Report, 1948-49; Labor Call, 17 August 1922, 15 October 1948 p 2; Tramway Record, May 1937. p 23, October 1948 pp 3, 17.