People Australia

Mervyn John Malcolm (1927-1986) fitter, machinist and trade union official 

Birth: 1927 at Bathurst, New South Wales, son of native-born parents Leslie John Malcolm and Amy Kathleen, née Glazebrook. Unmarried. Death: 2 June 1986 in hospital at Little Bay; usual residence Hurstville, Sydney. Religion: Catholic.

• Gained High School Intermediate Certificate.
• Started apprenticeship as fitter and machinist in Bathurst, 1943, and moved to Eveleigh workshops NSW Government Railways about 1945.
• Employed as fitter and machinist, NSW Government Railways, 1949-1962.
• He joined the Australian Labor Party, Stanmore branch, in 1952 and was branch secretary for several years.
• Delegate to Sydney District Committee of Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU), 1951-1962. Elected secretary, Sydney district committee 1962-1968; name of position changed to NSW State secretary of AEU, 1968-1972, following the establishment of the union in Australia as an autonomous body.  
• He was NSW State secretary of the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union (AMWU), following the amalgamation incorporating the Boilermakers’ & Blacksmiths’ Society and the Sheet Metal Workers Union, from 1972 until 1986 (retired). So he had been secretary continuously from 1962 to 1986.
• Member of the State council of the AEU; member of the Commonwealth council of the AEU from 1968 to 1972 at least. Delegate to AMWU National Council from 1972; member of the Illawarra South Hurstville branch in 1973 at least.
• Delegate to State conferences and delegate to State council of the Australian Labor Party. Held positions on State and Federal election sub-committees, the Labor Committee and News Bulletin Committee.
• Cause of death: pulmonary oedema (days), dilated cardiomyopathy (5 years) and pulmonary infarction (days),

Sources
A.L.P. Year Book / Australia Labor Party. New South Wales Branch; Metal Worker, July 1986 p 8.