People Australia

  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

John Frederic (Jack) Newman (1899–1991)

This article was published:

John Frederic (or Frederick) (Jack) Newman (1899-1991) fitter and turner and trade union official 

Birth: 2 August 1899 at Bunbury, Western Australia, son of Charles Henry (Harry) Newman (1863-1930), a fitter, of German heritage [Neumann], born at Pine Creek, South Australia, and Mary (Minnie), née Hancock (1872-1950, of English heritage, born at Roebourne, WA. Marriage: 24 April 1926 at Perth, WA, to Constance Emily Brumpton (1898-1975), born at West Hartle Poole, Stockton, Durham, England. They had one daughter and four sons. Death: 11 August 1991 in Regional Hospital, Geraldton, WA; usual address Fitzgerald Street, Geraldton. 

  • Started work about 1913. Was a wharf labourer when he attempted to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force at Perth on 21 December 1917. Declared permanently unfit for military service due to a dilated heart.
  • Joined Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) in 1920 after completing apprenticeship. Moved to the metropolitan area after living in a country area in 1928 where he became active in the union in WA, possibly as an organiser.
  • Union representative on cases in arbitration court. Held various branch positions within the older structure of AEU. Unemployed for 16 months with a young family during the Depression and became involved in the unemployed workers movement. Briefly a member in the 1930s of the Communist Party of Australia.
  • Full-time organiser AEU during World War II and up to late 1940s. Expelled from the Australian Labor Party in WA in the 1940s when he failed to attend a meeting of State executive to which he was summoned.
  • Elected minute secretary of the South Melbourne branch of the AEU.
  • President of Geraldton Regional Trades and Labour Council; retired about 1978.
  • Cause of death: cardiac arrest, hypoxia (instantaneous), chronic obstructive airways disease (20 years) and congestive cardiac failure.

Sources
Amalgamated
News, Sept. 1978; AMWSU Quarterly Journal, July-Sept. 1980 p.31.

Additional Resources and Scholarship

Citation details

'Newman, John Frederic (Jack) (1899–1991)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/newman-john-frederic-jack-34550/text43425, accessed 14 November 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012