People Australia

George McKennay, 1926

Westralian Worker (Perth), 16 April 1926, p 1

George McKennay (1880-1931) trade union official

Birth: 22 April 1880 at Kapunda, South Australia, son of William McKennay (1842-1920), general servant, later engine driver, and Helen (Ellen), née Brown (1844-1930), general servant. Both parents had been born in Peeblesshire, Scotland, William at Eddlestone, Ellen at Innerleithen, Kirkland. Marriage: 1905 at Boulder, Western Australia to Amy Florence Sampson. They had no children. Death: 11 July 1931 at Boulder WA. Religion: Methodist. 

• Spent fifteen years in South Australia and six years in New South Wales. Moved to Western Australia about 1901.
• Official in the Federated Miners’ Union from 1914. For one term was Swanlander delegate to Executive Council of Union.
• When Miners’ Union became affiliated with Australian Workers’ Union, he became secretary of the AWU Mining branch and member of AWU executive, Goldfields branch from 1920 to 1931.
• Was a candidate for the WA Legislative Council in 1926.
• Represented workers on State arbitration and industrial tribunals presenting arguments in a well thought-out and eloquent manner. Prominent delegate to annual AWU conventions.
• Councillor, Municipality of Boulder for three periods; Justice of the Peace. Keenly interested in Friendly Society work he was a member of the Boulder branch of the United Order of Ancient Druids and secretary for three years.
• Cause of death: fibrosis of lungs and congestion of lungs (miner’s phthisis).

Sources
Australian Worker (Sydney), 29 July 1931 p.1.