People Australia

George William Kellaway (1914-1984) waterside worker and trade union official 

Birth: 19 September 1914 at Charters Towers, Queensland, son of Queensland-born George William Kellaway (1883-1968), butcher, and Margaret (Maggie), née Spillane (1889-1976). Unmarried. Death: 23 July 1984 in hospital at Brisbane, Queensland. Religion: Buried with Catholic rites. 

• Attended school and grew up in Fortitude Valley. Casual worker on waterfront.
• Called up for full-time duty he enlisted in the Australian Military Forces on 10 March 1941. As he was working in a reserved occupation, he was discharged on 3 September 1942.
• Joined Waterside Workers’ Federation (WWF), Brisbane branch, 1942. Was workplace delegate, member, Rank and File Committee, and executive member of the Brisbane branch, including chairperson.
• Delegate to Queensland Trades and Labor Council and trustee. Federal councillor for Brisbane zone, 1971.
• President, Brisbane Waterside Workers’ Club, 1969 . Foundation member, Peace Committee, WWF Brisbane branch. Made several visits to the Soviet Union. Joined no political party. Supported the Communist Party of Australia “though he had some differences on the CPA position in relation to the USSR”.
• Retired in 1979. Cause of death: cardiorespiratory arrest (minutes), aspiration pneumonia (1 week) and terminal carcinoma oesophagus (10 months).

Sources
Tribune (Sydney), 8 August 1984, p 13; Socialist, November 1979, p.4; Maritime Worker, August 1984, p 13, September 1984, p12.