People Australia

Henry Stewart (Harry) Norington (1901-1968) teacher and trade union official 

Birth: 1901 at Tichborne, New South Wales, son of William Henry Norington (1860-1915), a baker, born in Melbourne, Victoria, and Margaret, née Stewart (1876-1963), born at Parkes, NSW. Marriage: 1927 at Sydney to Margery Goodwin (1905-1972), born at Lithgow, NSW. They had one son. Death: 20 June 1968 in Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Sydney: usual residence Oberon Street, Coogee. Religion: Methodist. 

• Grew up in Tichborne near Parkes. His father died early in his life and the family moved to Sydney. As a child he also assisted in raising his sisters and brothers.
• Trained at Sydney Teachers' College. Entered teaching service in 1920 and taught in half-time and one-teacher schools for many years and in 1925 at Woollahra Public School in Sydney. Member of Assistants' Association for many years including representation on the Teachers’ Federation council in 1929 and taking position of president in 1933.
• Assisted in leading struggle against the Salaries Adjustment Act and became member of the Salaries Restoration Committee in 1933 achieving the restoration of public servant salaries in 1937. Assisted in leading struggle against Finances Adjustment Ac, which discontinued Government contributions to the Superannuation Fund. He was later active in its re-establishment which was secured in 1944.
• Promoted need to mobilise members to assist in union struggle and at times to include other public servants. Secretary of Men Assistants' Association.
• Member of the NSW Teachers' Federation executive in 1934 and vice-president in 1936. Member of NSW Teachers' Federation staff from 1937 and resigned from teaching. Organiser from 1938 to 1943 at least and visited many centres and States to recruit members.
• Joined Federated Clerk's Union as at time full-time federation officials were not entitled to membership of NSW Teachers' Federation. Acting assistant general secretary of NSW Teachers' Federation in 1943. General secretary from 1944 until he retired due to ill health in 1962 and was active campaigner and negotiator for teachers' salaries. Gained active life membership of the NSW Teachers' Federation in 1945.
• Secretary of the Teachers' Certificate panel in 1942 and instrumental in designing the Certificate Agreement which replaced the multiple certificate system and contributed a single professional qualification.
• Represented NSW Teachers' Federation at Australian Teachers' Federation Conferences and Council meetings, at ACTU Congresses, on the Federal and State Public and Essential Services Council and on NSW Labor Council.
• Became member of the Australian Labor Party as a young man and was involved in party affairs including becoming campaign director for Abram Landa for seat of Bondi.
• Cause of death: coronary artery vascular disease.
• His son was Dr Bradney William Norington (1928-1991).

Sources
Education, 15 November 1937, p 411, 18 March 1938, p 575, 17 June 1940, p 228, 29 January 1943, p 63, 23 May 1944, June 1944 p.1, 30 January 1945 p 1, 25 May 1946, 12 May 1949, 21 April 1950, 17 August 1955, p 5, 16 May 1962, pp 1 & 3, 3 July 1968 pp 100 & 104, 14 August 1968 p 122; Banker, July-August 1962, p 7.