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Vincent Brian McMullan (1923–1992)

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Vincent Brian (Brian) McMullan (1923-1992) public servant and trade union official

Birth: 29 May 1923 at Geelong, Victoria, son of Andrew Vincent McMullan (1890-1941), a soldier, probably born in the United Kingdom, and native-born Dorothea Frances (Dorothy), née Walsh (1899-1982). Marriage: 1954 at Murrumbeena, Victoria, to Merlin La Masurier, hairdresser. They had two daughters and one son. Death: 11 June 1992 at Mount Waverley, Victoria. Religion: Catholic on RAAF service record. 

  • His father was a permanent soldier in the Australian Military Forces from 1911 to 1915 and from 1919-1941 rising to Warrant Officer Class I, and was a member of the Australian Imperial Force from 1915 to 1919 including service in France during World War I. He died of illness while serving in the Australian Instructional Corps during World War II.
  • Brian was educated at a technical school and obtained his Intermediate Certificate. He was a laboratory assistant, munitions, before he was mobilized for service in the Royal Australian Naval reserve on 17 June 1942. Discharged on 14 January 1943, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force two months later, giving his height as 6 feet 2½ inches (190 cm) and desiring to enter the service police. He served as a service policeman and was discharged on 8 May 1946.
  • After the war he worked as a laboratory assistant in the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories. He was a branch member of the Federated Public Service Assistants Association of Australia (FPSAA) from 1949. Committee member of the Victorian branch of the FPSAA in 1951-1953; vice-president 1953; president 1954-1957.
  • President of the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories sectional committee 1951-1957. Representative for Victorian branch Promotions Appeals Committee for six years. Executive councillor 1955-1957. Trustee of executive council.
  • Elected full-time general secretary of the FPSAA in 1957 to represent Fourth Division Officers. Elected assistant secretary of the High Council in 1964. In July 1967 the association’s name was changed to the Commonwealth [later Australian] Public Service Association (Fourth Division Officers).
  • He was elected assistant secretary of the Council of Commonwealth Public Service Organisations (CCPSO) in 1969. He was Fourth Division representative on the Joint Council of the Commonwealth Public Service from 35th meeting 1966. In 1971 he undertook an advanced management course at the Administrative Staff College, Mt Eliza, Victoria. He was still federal secretary/treasurer of the Australian Public Service Association (FDO) in 1979.
  • Member of Joint Council and CCPSO sub-committees on various issues; represented APSA FDO on deputations to prime ministers, ministers and the Public Service Board and on the Royal Commission into Australian Government Administration. Association advocate before the Public Service Arbitrator. Presented various work value cases.
  • Regular appearances before Industrial Registrar on constitutional matters relating to association conditions of eligibility and description of industry. Addressed Public Service Board and Postmaster General Department’s senior management courses on Industrial Relations.
  • Cause of death: heart attack (minutes), ischemic heart disease (10 years), hypertension (20 years) and diabetes mellitus (15 years).

Sources
APJA 1975 Elections.

Additional Resources and Scholarship

Citation details

'McMullan, Vincent Brian (1923–1992)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/mcmullan-vincent-brian-34734/text43709, accessed 2 November 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Brian McMullan, 1943

Brian McMullan, 1943

A9301, 128003 (National Archives of Australia)

Life Summary [details]

Birth

29 May, 1923
Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Death

11 June, 1992 (aged 69)
Mount Waverley, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

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.

Occupation
Military Service
Key Organisations
Workplaces