People Australia

Jim Murison, n.d.

James (Jim) Murison (1889-1957) railway clerk and trade union official 

Birth: 25 December 1889 at Forres, Moray, Scotland, son of William Stuart Murison (1856-1931), commercial traveller, and his first wife Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ross (1861-1890). Marriage: 11 March 1914 at Brisbane, Queensland, to Emily Seawright (1893-1984). They had a daughter and one son. Death: 16 November 1957 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales; usual residence Coleman Avene, Homebush, Sydney. Religion: Presbyterian. 

• Worked in railways in Edinburgh after leaving school. Gained work in printing firm.
• Arrived in Sydney aboard the Orama on 27 March 1913. His father, stepmother and half-siblings came to Queensland the following year.
• Jim worked in several industries in various parts of Queensland. Tally clerk with Railway Department, Toowoomba. Transferred to Stores Branch, Brisbane.
• Became officer with the all-grade union, Queensland Railways Union and later Australian Railways Union (ARU). Secretary of the strike committee during 1925 railway strike in District secretary in Townsville for the ARU from 1925 until he retired in 1956. Australian Councillor in 1929-1956 and vice-president from 1944; officer, Qld State branch, to 1956. Advocate before Railway Appeal Board and Inquiry Boards in Qld.
• Held important positions in the Townsville Labor Council and many times represented his union at Queensland and Australian Council of Trade Unions congresses.
• On retirement in 1956 moved to Homebush, Member of the Men's League of Presbyterian Church, Homebush.
• Cause of death: broncho pneumonia (1 day) and cerebellar tumour (2½ months).
• His son Captain Alexander James Murison (1915-1996), a civil servant, served with the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) in New Guinea in World War II.

Sources
Advocate, 15 January 1947 p 5, 16 December 1957; ARU 23rd Meeting of Australian Council Mar. 1956; ARU 24th Meeting of Australian Council April 1952.