People Australia

James Joseph Maloney (1901-1982) trade union official and Member of NSW Legislative Council

Birth: 28 July 1901, Goulburn, New South Wales. Son of James Maloney, baker, and Mary Ann nee Pickels. Married: Emily Dent, 1924. They had one son and three daughters. Death: 28 January 1982, Kogarah, Sydney. Catholic.

• Educated at South Goulburn public school;
• Messenger boy; Apprenticed to Baxter & Co. boot factory, Goulburn;
• Moved to Sydney; Employed in several boot factories and in own business;
• Unemployed during Depression; Joined Australian Boot Trade Employees’ Federation, 1915; Office-holder, 1922; NSW branch Secretary. 1932-43; Federal president 1936-40? or 1940-1943; Federal secretary 1940-43? or 1943?;
• Introduced Mortality Fund Benefit scheme adopted by NSW branch and later by the Federation; Court Officer of union;
• Delegate to Trades and Labor Council 1927-43; Executive member, 1930-43; President 1940-43;
• Committee member, ACTU;
• Editor, Unity, 1937-43;
• Associated with Boot and Shoe Trades School Advisory Committee of Sydney Technical College, for 11 years;
• Member, Legislative Council NSW, 1946-72;
• Member 2KY wireless committee 1936-43;
• Australian Ambassador to USSR, 1943. 

Radi, Spearritt & Hinton; Lyb, 1934-5 p.233; Unity, 15 Dec. 1943 p.2-3