People Australia

Henry Joseph (Harry) McPhillips (1915-1962) trade union official and Communist

Birth: 2 January 1915 at Rockhampton, Queensland, son of Percy Richard McPhillips (1885-1951), fitter and turner [“engineer”], born at Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales, and Carrie Isobel, née Armstrong, (1887-1973), born at Brisbane, Queensland. Marriage: 1952 at Forest Lodge, Sydney, New South Wales, to Josephine Annie, née Burker, late Pidcock (1909-1965), born at Hillston, New South Wales, a divorcée with two children. They had no children. Death: 10 December 1962 at Royal South Sydney Hospital, Zetland, Sydney; usual residence Elizabeth Street, Redfern, Sydney. Religion: none, had a Communist funeral. 

• Started working life during Great Depression years on relief work and was unemployed. Joined Communist Party of Australia (CPA) during Depression years.
• Worked in Department of Aircraft Production plant, Mascot, during World War II and became chairman of the shop committee.
• Organiser, for the CPA in western NSW and Broken Hill after War War II. Organiser of the Hotel, Club and Restaurant Workers’ Union in 1948. Official of the Hotel, Club and Restaurant Workers’ Union from about 1948 until 1962 and worked on building the union. Organised in Illawarra district after amalgamation with Liquor Trades Union.
• CPA candidate for Federal seat of Grayndler in 1949 and the State seat of Cooks River in December 1950.
• Services to the trade union movement was placed on record with the NSW Labor Council.
• Cause of death: cerebral haemorrhage (1 day) and cerebral tumour (2 years).
• Brother of Leslie John (Jack) McPhillips (1910-2004), also a Communist trade union official.

Sources
Tribune (Sydney), 19 December 1962, p 10.