People Australia

Harry Llewelyn, n.d.

Henry (Harry) Llewelyn (1882-1964) carter, messenger and trade union leader

Birth: 2 June 1882 at Wigan, Lancashire, England, son of Henry Llewelyn (1855-1933), goldminer, trade union leader and politician, and his first wife Eleanor Anna, née Davies (c.1856-1891). Both parents had been born in Wales, Great Britain, his father at Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, his mother at Tredegar, Monmouth. Marriage: 29 October 1903 at Brisbane, Queensland, to native-born Alice Mary Rodwell (1883-1964). They had seven daughters and three sons. Death: 15 January 1964 at Eventide, Sandgate North, Brisbane, Queensland. Religion: Presbyterian. 

• Arrived in Queensland as a child, with his parents and siblings, aboard the Dorunda on 3 November 1887. Attended school at Gympie.
• Found small jobs after leaving school as a boy. Foundation member and president of the Ship Painters and Dockers’ Union in 1905. Union representative on Industrial Council (later Queensland Trades and Labor Council) and Wages Board.
• Driving laundry carts in 1909, he joined the Federated Carters’ and Drivers’ Union (later Road Transport Workers’ Union) that year. Became president of the Carters’ and Drivers’ Union and later treasurer and remained with union until 1934.
• Retained membership with Ship Painters and Dockers’ Union and retained position of delegate to Industrial Council but Carters’ and Drivers’ Union was not affiliated at that time. This placed him in the position of being elected President of Industrial Council in 1910.
• Foundation member and president of the Laundry Workers’ of Brisbane, Miscellaneous Workers’ Union, 1915. Represented the Marine Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union Queensland from 1920 until office closed in Depression years.
• Campaign Director for Dave Bowman in the Valley Electorate, 1915, which he won by the largest majority at the time.
• Employed at the Treasury in 1933 and was a member of the Miscellaneous Workers’ Union.
• Worked on Logan Toll Bridge and formed an Australian Labor Party branch in Beenleigh in 1935, which obtained a Labor majority in that area.
• Transferred to Parliament House as a messenger and joined the Clerks’ Union until 1949 until he reached the age limit.
• Engaged in temporary work with Main Roads branch and rejoined Miscellaneous Workers’ Union. Treasurer of the Miscellaneous Workers’ Union, Queensland branch from 1952 to 1959 (retired).
• Union representative for Queensland on Federal Council of the Miscellaneous Workers’ Union. Life member, MWU 1959. Union representative on Queensland TLC, until after retirement.
• Cause of death: carcinoma of prostate.
• His older brother Evan John Llewellyn (1875-1967) was member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for the seat of Toowoomba in 1925-1929 and 1932-1935.

Sources
Federation News, March 1959 p 6; Advocate, 15 December 1959 p 8.