People Australia

Kevin Peter McKeon (known as Kenneth or Ken) (1916-1978) boilermaker, ironworker, trade union official, ex-Communist and industrial officer

Birth: 1916 at Canowindra, New South Wales, son of native-born parents of Irish descent Michael William McKeon (1891-1964), police officer, later barrister, and Veronica Irene (Irene) née Byrnes (1893-1985). Marriages: (1) 1935 at Auburn, Sydney, to Joyce Daphne Flello (1917-2011). They had two daughters. (2) 1975 at Sydney to Lily Mavis Burness. Death: 25 October 1978 at Neringah home of peace at Wahroonga, Sydney; usual residence Sixth Avenue, Toukley, NSW.

• Elected assistant secretary of the Balmain branch of Federated Ironworkers’ Association (FIA) in 1943. Was employed as a boilermakers’ assistant at Cockatoo Dock. Became a new recruit to Communist Party. Fond of beer, sport and gambling. Soon became one of Ernie Thornton’s leading associates and an associate of Tom Brislan.
• The Brislan-McKeown Communist leadership of FIA at Balmain worked hard to improve its position and won some support. Adversary of Nick Origlass.
• Secretary of new, enlarged Sydney branch of FIA in 1949. Clashed with Laurie Short over moves to call strike over gaoling of Jack McPhillips in 1949.
• Fined 100 pounds for contempt of court in hearings under National Emergency (Coal Strike) Act.
• Narrowly defeated Short in election as secretary of Sydney Branch of FIA after split in anti-Communist forces in 1951 (Trotskyists vs Groupers). Was FIA national returning officer at time of 1950-1951 court case. Defeated for branch secretaryship in 1952.
• Subsequently abandoned Communism. Was successfully supported by Short for entry to Australian Labor Party in 1964.
• Later industrial officer with Chicago Bridge and Engineering Co.
• Cause of death: carcinoma of prostate (years).

Sources
Robert Murray and Kate White, The ironworkers: a history of the Federated Ironworkers’ Association of Australia (Sydney, c1982).