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William John (Bill) Keating (1911–1993)

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William John (Bill) Keating (1911-1993) labourer, miner, coal trimmer, Communist and trade union official 

Birth: 1911 probably at Wickham, Newcastle, New South Wales, son of John Keating (1876-1951), a miner, born in England, and native-born Mary Jane, née Bradley (1880-1938). Marriage: 1939 at Kurri Kurri, NSW, to native-born Caroline Blackburn (1916-1970). They had one daughter and three sons. Death: 9 March 1993 in hospital at New Lambton, Newcastle; usual residence Lindus Street, Wickham. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Family moved to coalfields where his father gained work as a miner. After school Bill attended evening classes at Cessnock, learning basic accountancy and typing.
  • His first job was at Wire Rope Works, Newcastle. Worked as a timber cutter, providing pit props for the mines and other positions. Worked at Rothbury in 1929 when miners were locked out and the miners tried to stop the government re-opening the mine with non-unionised labour.
  • After lockout he worked in his old job at the mine from about 1929 until he was laid off in 1933. Member ALP in the late 1920s and became disillusioned in 1930s; Member of the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) in 1934. Unemployed from about 1933 to 1935. Took casual work 1935-1937 at Broken Hill Pty Company.
  • Vice-president of the Northern District Miners Federation, 1936. Active member of Unemployed Workers’ and Militant Minority movements. Secretary of Northern Provincial Council of Unemployed and Relief Workers, and Northern Provincial Council delegate to the Newcastle Trades Hall Council. NTHC delegate to National Peace Congress, Melbourne 1937.
  • Waterside worker (coal trimmer) in Newcastle from about 1938 to 1970. Active Member of Waterside Workers’ Federation (WWF). On Federal Council WWF, 1943. President, WWF Newcastle branch 1946 to 1954. Branch secretary from 1957 to 1970.
  • Involved in campaign against Menzies’ attempts to ban CPA in 1951. Resigned from CPA in 1970 in protest against the expulsion of three Newcastle members. Retired in 1970.
  • Cause of death: gastrointestinal haemorrhage (12-14 hours), chronic duodenal ulcer (30 years) and angioimmunolymphodysplasia (recent lymphodysplastic change).

Sources
Ross Edmonds, In Storm and Struggle. A History of the Communist Party in Newcastle 1920-1940 (1991); interview with Bill Keating 1990 and 1991.

Citation details

'Keating, William John (Bill) (1911–1993)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/keating-william-john-bill-34672/text43617, accessed 6 October 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1911
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Death

9 March, 1993 (aged ~ 82)
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

duodenal ulcer

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

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