Henry William (Harry) Massey (1883–1965)
This article was published:
- in the Biographical Register of the Australian Labour Movement, 1788-1975
- online in 2024
Henry William (Harry) Massey [registered as William Henry] (1883-1965) printer and trade union official
Birth: 21 November 1883 in Queensland, registered as William Henry, son of Daniel Wright Massey (1846-1915), butcher, and Elizabeth, née Williams (1847-1933). Both parents had been born in Gloucestershire, England — Daniel at Chedworth and Elizabeth at Withington. Marriage: 28 September 1912 in Queensland to native-born Ann Scott (1890-1983). They had two daughters. Death: 15 November 1965 in a convalescent home at Herston, Brisbane, Queensland [registered as William Henry Massey]. Religion: Catholic.
- Though his birth and death names were registered as “William Henry” his marriage and electoral roll entries were as “Henry William”.
- Served apprenticeship with E. Powell; the firm later became Powells and Puglas.
- In 1908 he joined Queensland Typographical Association, which later became Queensland branch of the Printing Industry Employees’ Union of Australia (PIEUA). Participated in 1912 general strike as a union member.
- Member of the board of management of the Queensland Typographical Association about 1912. Was involved in launching PIEUA in 1916. Elected organiser of branch from 1922 to 1939. Took over from Col Colborne as secretary-Treasurer of the Qld branch from 1939 until he retired in 1954.
- Visited every Qld sub-branch of the union to help to stabilise them and to detect breaches in award conditions. Union branch councillor, Federal council, from 1938 to 1954. Served for thirty-one years as a full-time official of the union. Sports secretary of the Eight Hours Union, later called Labor Day Committee.
- Early in life was a notable sprint runner with the Kelvin Grove Amateur Athletic Club; won the Dave Scott Memorial 100 yards race in 1909. Later became a starter for the Queensland Amateur Athletic Association.
- Cause of death: cerebral haemorrhage (2½ hours) cerebral arteriosclerosis causing arteriosclerotic dementia for 12 months (years).
Sources
Printing Trades Journal, April 1939, November 1953 p 119.
Additional Resources
- photo, Daily Standard (Brisbane), 20 August 1925, p 8
- photo, Telegraph (Brisbane), 1 April 1939, p 9
- athletic profile, Truth (Brisbane), 18 April 1948, p 13
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Colborne, Colin (acquaintance)
Citation details
'Massey, Henry William (Harry) (1883–1965)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/massey-henry-william-harry-34450/text43250, accessed 4 October 2024.
Life Summary [details]
Alternative Names
- Massey, William Henry
Birth
21 November,
1883
Queensland,
Australia
Death
15 November,
1965
(aged 81)
Herston, Brisbane,
Queensland,
Australia
Cause of Death
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.