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Richard Harry (Dick) Nash (1890–1951)

Richard Harry (Dick) Nash (1890-1951) 

Birth: 2 July 1890, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria. Son of Harry Avis Nash, miner, and Elizabeth Phoebe nee Stroud. Marriage: Ruby Piper, in Western Australia, 1913. They had five sons and one daughter. Death: 12 December 1951, Perth, Western Australia, Anglican.

  • Moved to Kalgoorlie with parents in 1897;
  • Educated at Lake View State School;
  • Became junior mechanic; Later started as copy boy on staff of Kalgoorlie Miner and progressed to proof-reader, 1904-10;
  • Gained work on Kalgoorlie Tramways 1910-15, WA Government Tramways 1915-22;
  • Founding member of Kalgoorlie Tramways Union and Secretary until 1916 when he moved to Perth and gained work on trams;
  • Secretary, WA Electric Tramways Employees Union, 1922-39;
  • Workers' representative on industrial boards and other bodies for many years;
  • Secretary Perth THC, 1939-43;
  • Joined Metropolitan District Council ALP 1917 as delegate from local tram union, pres. for second term in 1918 when big tramways strike occurred, secretary 1922, treasurer, trustee, and secretary 1939-43;
  • Secretary Labor Day Committee, 1923;
  • Member Subiaco Municipal Council for 12 years;
  • Senator 1943-51 (died in office);
  • Pre-selection candidate for East Perth in 1922 but defeated by T. J. Hughes;
  • Contested Subiaco WA 1930;
  • Member, Standing Committee on Public Works 1946-49;
  • Consumers representative on Board of Metropolitan Market Trust of WA;
  • Member, Advisory Committee, Perth Public Hospital;
  • Adviser to Australian delegation post-war conference, San Francisco 1945. 

Joan Rydon, A Biographical Register of the Commonwealth Parliament, 1901-1972 (Canberra, 1975); Death Certificate of Ruby Nash, Perth 3937/1979; Australian Worker, 7 March 1923 p.15; Westralian Worker, 29 June 1923 p.5, 4 Sept. 1942

Other Entries for Richard Harry (Dick) Nash

Citation details

'Nash, Richard Harry (Dick) (1890–1951)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/nash-richard-harry-dick-31971/text39446, accessed 30 March 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

2 July, 1890
Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Death

12 December, 1951 (aged 61)
Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Occupation
Political Activism
Workplaces