People Australia

James Mitchell, n.d.

James (Jim) Mitchell (1913-2003) journalist, wharf labourer, trade union official, municipal councillor and Communist

Birth: 26 November 1913 at Liverpool, England, son of George Lawrence Mitchell (1889-1968), a painter, later farmer, and Alice Eva, née Brown (1889-1963), a suffragette. Marriages: (1) 22 November 1937 at Melbourne to Anne Catherine White (1906-1974), born at Colac, Victoria. They had two children. The marriage ended in divorce about 1950. (2) possibly about 1953 to Marcia Pearl Parfit, later Munn (1928-2022), a women’s activist. Death: 9 August 2003 in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.

• Arrived in Melbourne, Victoria, with his parents and younger brother aboard the SS Baradine on 21 December 1924. Was educated at Hamilton High School, won a scholarship to be a teacher but was unable to complete his course because of the Depression.
• With a swag, he worked on the fruit picking trail, walking roads and jumping rattlers and was involved in the struggles of the unemployed worker wherever he went. In 1934 he moved back to Hamilton.
• In 1938 he moved to Melbourne. Joined the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) at the age of 17. Worked as cub reporter for the Melbourne Herald then the CPA paper Worker’s Voice. Supported himself by taking other jobs including at the Holproof factory where, as shop steward, he led many struggles.
• Was a textile worker, working as a wool scourer when he enlisted in the Australian Military Forces on 23 January 1942. Transferred to the Australian Imperial Force on 11 May 1943 and served with the 8th Infantry Battalion in New Guinea where he fought the Japanese at Wewak, and was promoted to Sergeant. Was discharged on 12 April 1946.
• After the war the Communist Party asked him to transfer to South Australia, where he became editor of SA Tribune. Threatened with illegality, the CPA was forced to hide literature and books in ceiling, under house in bushes, anywhere that was safe. The party press was dismantled and transferred to safer places.
• In 1950 he went to work at Port Adelaide wharves. Elected to Port Adelaide executive of Waterside Workers’ Federation (now Maritime Union of Australia?). Joined union executive.
• Throughout 1950s and 1960s there were almost weekly struggles and disputes. During national wharf strikes in 1954 and 1956 the executive played an important part in collecting relief for striking wharfies, issuing propaganda, visiting farmer organisations in the country and arranging transport. They eventually won all the conditions they sought.
• After five attempts, Mitchell was elected to Woodville Council in 1962 and held the position for four years. Committed to preservation of sand dunes and protection of the environment.
• Served on party committees including State and Central Committees of CPA SA, and the State Executive and National Committee of Australia-Soviet Friendship Society.
• Appointed resident journalist in Moscow of the Socialist (now the Guardian) from 1975 to 1982, wrote for Radio Moscow, was editor for Progress Publishing.
• Back in Australia, he was active in peace, friendship, cultural, trade unions, sports and educational organisations.
• Lived a life of dedication to the need for a peaceful, socialist world, totally intolerant of racial and religious prejudice.

Sources
The Guardian