People Australia

William Henry Rees (1880-1961) miner and trade union leader

Birth: 6 March 1880 at Fingal, Tasmania, son of Tasmanian-born parents William Rees (1856-1916), coalminer and early trade union activist, and Martha Louise, née Tapp (1859-1932). Marriage: 12 April 1909 at St Marys to Mary Ethel Bolton. They had one son. Death: 4 March 1961 in District Hospital at St Marys, Tasmania. 

• His paternal grandfather David Rees (1809-1881), born at Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales, arrived in Tasmania as a convict aboard the Gilmore in 1843 and married Ann Oliver [daughter of George Oliver, a former convict] born in Holborn London, England.
• William worked as a coal miner at Mt Nicholas, Tasmania. Was check weighman at Mt Nicholas Colliery.
• Presided at inaugural meeting of Tasmanian Coal Miners' Association (TCMA) in December 1912, becoming member of union's first committee.
• TCMA president from 1915 for many years. As president, worked closely with TCMA secretary W. Graham.
• Attended first National Convention of the Federation in 1924.
• Retired on pension.
• Cause of death: myocardial failure and senility.

Sources
Edgar Ross, A history of the Miners' Federation of Australia ([Sydney] 1970; Common Cause, 13 May 1967 p 4.