People Australia

Martin Michael Miller (1878-1958) coalminer and trade union official 

Birth: 2 April 1878 at Ipswich, Queensland, son of Frederick Charles Miller (1838-1920), a stockman, station manager, later labourer and fruiterer, born at Würrtemberger Hof, Mainhardt, Pfedelbach, Öhringen, Würrtemberg, Germany, and Ann, née Daniells (1847-1928), born at Ipswich. Marriage: 22 September 1897 at Brassall, Queensland, with Methodist forms to Queensland-born Augusta Christina Blum (1875-1938), whose parents had been born in Prussia, Germany. They had one daughter and two sons. Death: 29 March 1958 in hospital at Ipswich. Religion: Congregational. 

• Worked as a coalminer from about 1890 on West Moreton field, Queensland.
• Was a lodge official before being elected to board of management of Queensland Colliery Employees' Union (QCEU) in 1912. QCEU vice-president for over twenty years during presidency of Charles Kilpatrick.
• Queensland District delegate to Miners' Federation's first national convention, Sydney, 1925. Assistant Queensland district check inspector from 1927. Elected QCEU president and district check inspector 1935, retaining posts until retirement in 1942. Also served as district auditor.
• Union representative on State Conciliation Board and on West Moreton District Coal Board.
• In 1938 was a member of a select committee appointed by Queensland Mines Department to report on mine ventilation and reform of Mining Act.
• Long-standing and active member of the Australian Labor Party. Campaign agent in 1915 for David Gledson when latter was first elected to Queensland Legislative Assembly. Represented Miners' Federation at State ALP conventions.
• Cause of death: hypostatic pneumonia (2 days), congestive cardiac failure (years) and senility (years).

Sources
Pete Thomas, The coalminers of Queensland: a narrative history of the Queensland Colliery Employees Union. Volume 1 Creating the traditions (Ipswich, 1986); Common Cause, 21 February 1942 & 5 July 1958.