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.

Phillip Bede (Phil) O'Toole (1913–2007)

This article was published:

Phillip Bede Patrick (Phil) O'Toole (1913-2007) clerk, trade union official and political activist 

Birth: 4 March 1913 at Pyrmont, New South Wales, son of Joseph O’Toole (1871-1931), labourer, born at Pyrmont, NSW, and Mary Therese, née Crowley (1878-1958), born at Kensington, South Australia. Marriage: 23 April 1932 at St Therese Church, Lakemba, NSW, to Olga Patricia Dunning (1914-1958), born at Balmain. They had one daughter. Death: 19 August 2007 at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Cost accountant at Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Limited, Ashfield.
  • Elected to council of the Federated Clerks' Union of Australia (FCUA), NSW branch, in 1948 from the Radio and Electrical section. Was a prominent Grouper in clerk's union in removing Communists.
  • Elected secretary of the FCUA, NSW branch, in 1952 replacing Communist Jack Hughes. Served until about 1954 resigning to take federal office position.
  • Assistant federal secretary from about 1954 to about 1956, resigning when the federal office moved to Melbourne, and federal vice-president, NSW branch, 1959.
  • Elected secretary of the FCUA, NSW branch, again in 1959. NSW branch representative on federal executive from 1959.
  • Member of central council from 1954 and of federal council from 1956. Chief administrative officer of NSW branch office from about 1956 to 1959. Appointed life member of union 1969. Union representative at international trade union conference.
  • As member of the Wireless Committee of Labor Council of NSW was a director of Radio 2KY. Member of the Australian Labor Party and held various branch positions.
  • Vice-president of the Amateur Swimming Association.

Sources
Clerk
, March 1959, p 3, December 1969, p 2; Labor Year Book 1973.

Related Entries in NCB Sites

Citation details

'O'Toole, Phillip Bede (Phil) (1913–2007)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/otoole-phillip-bede-phil-34817/text43854, accessed 11 November 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

4 March, 1913
Pyrmont, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Death

19 August, 2007 (aged 94)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation or Descriptor
Key Organisations
Political Activism
Workplaces