People Australia

  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites

Browse People:

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

Michael (Mick) McNamara (1939–1991)

This article was published:

McNamara, Michael (Mick) (1939-1991) labourer and trade union official 

Birth: 1939 at Ultimo, Sydney, New South Wales, son of Andrew McNamara and Elizabeth, née Gallagher. Marriage: 1959 at Sydney to Elaine Ruth Bell. They had three sons. Death: 13 October 1991 in his residence at Tuscan place, Casula, Sydney. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Became a pick and shovel labourer in the building industry in Sydney about 1954.
  • Elected delegate, NSW branch of the Builders Labourers’ Federation, about 1955. Became federal councillor of the BLF.
  • Elected secretary of the BLF in 1961, reputedly the State’s youngest union secretary. Held office until 1968, when he resigned due to ill-health and was replaced by Jack Mundey.
  • During his secretaryship he worked for the amalgamation of building unions.
  • Vice-president of the Building Trades Group. Delegate to NSW Labor Council. Supported Mundey in the Green Ban period.
  • Cause of death: anurial/renal failure (5 days), motor neurone disease and Korsakoffs psychosis.

Sources
Sydney Morning Herald, 14 October 1991 p 8; Builders’ Labourer, February/March 1968, p 3; Paul True, Tales of the BLF: rolling the right! (Parramatta [1995].

Related Entries in NCB Sites

Citation details

'McNamara, Michael (Mick) (1939–1991)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/mcnamara-michael-mick-34431/text43219, accessed 3 December 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1939
Ultimo, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Death

13 October, 1991 (aged ~ 52)
Casula, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

motor-neurone disease

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 or Descriptor
Key Organisations