James (Jim) McInerney (c. 1836–1910)
This article was published:
- in the Biographical Register of the Australian Labour Movement, 1788-1975
- online in 2024
James (Jim) McInerney (1826-1910) trade union official
Baptised: 26 January 1836 at Sixmilebridge, County Clare, Ireland, son of John McInerney (1800-1892), farmer, and Ann, née Lawson (1811-1874). Marriages: (1) Wagga Wagga, New South Wales to Agnes Mary Smith. The marriage ended in divorce in June 1893. (2) 1898 at Murrumburrah, NSW, to native-born Catherine Madden (1851-1934). They had one daughter. Death: 11 February 1910 at Mummell, near Goulburn. Religion: Catholic.
- About 1838 arrived in South Australia, where the family settled. Jim had moved to New South Wales by 1880.
- Organising secretary of Amalgamated Shearers’ Union (ASU), Young branch, about 1887.
- Founding secretary of Goulburn branch of the ASU. Retained post until branch’s closure in 1897, falling out with Arthur Rae and other members of Wagga branch over proposed amalgamation of ASU and General Labourers’ Union in NSW 1892.
- Organised in Victoria for Creswick branch. Organised for Central branch, Australian Workers’ Union until late 1909.
- Elected branch delegate to successive AWU conferences but prevented by ill health from attending 1909 conference.
- Cause of death: sarcoma of femur (left), secondary deposits in liver etc, exhaustion.
- His death left his wife and a young child in straitened circumstances? D/C says no issue.
Sources
John Merritt, The Making of the AWU (Melbourne, 1986); Worker (Wagga), 2 March 1910, p 5.
Additional Resources and Scholarship
- reports on his work as an organiser for the AWU, Worker (Wagga, NSW), 21 September 1901, p 8
- reports on his work as an organiser for the AWU, Worker (Wagga, NSW), 28 December 1905, p 6
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- McInerney, James (Jim)
- Rae, Arthur Edward (colleague)
Citation details
'McInerney, James (Jim) (c. 1836–1910)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/mcinerney-james-jim-34384/text43152, accessed 14 March 2025.
Life Summary [details]
Birth
c.
26 January,
1836
Sixmilebridge,
Clare,
Ireland
Death
11 February,
1910
(aged 74)
Mummell,
New South Wales,
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.