People Australia

Malinda Grace (or Melinda) Roach, née McFadyen (1862-1931) community worker and Labor Party activist

Birth: 6 April 1862 at Chance Gully, Burrangong, Young, New South Wales, daughter of Robert McFadyen (1824-1863), a farm labourer later gold miner, born at Stoneykirk, Wigtownshire Scotland, and Catherine, née Quigg (1828-1912), born at Dunseverick, County Antrim, Ireland. Marriage: 7 October 1884 at Glebe, Sydney, to Richard George (Dick) Roach (1859-1922), a vanman, born in Ireland. They had five daughters and four sons. Death: 20 February 1931 at Coast Hospital, Little Bay, Matraville, Sydney; usual residence Queen Street, Newtown, Sydney. Religion: Catholic. 

• Resident of Newtown, NSW, from 1891. With her husband she helped form Newtown Labor League about 1900, being elected founding vice-president. Her husband was also a prominent member of the Waterside Workers Federation.
• Active Australian Labor Party campaigner from early 1900s. Prominent anti-conscriptionist in Newtown-Botany during World War I, addressing many rallies.
• During 1917 strike worked at the Sydney Town Hall distributing food to strikers’ families; then spent four months working on behalf of waterside workers during 1919 strike.
• Involved in Destitute Children’s Clothing Relief Fund and in Sunshine Club of NSW, providing outings for impoverished children. Also assisted the poor through her involvement in the University Social Club.
• Member of NSW ALP Executive in early 1920s.
• Justice of the Peace. An Old Age pensioner in later life.
• Cause of death from injuries received when thrown from a motor omnibus during a collision with a tram. The tram driver was charged with manslaughter.

Sources
Labor Daily, 9 February 1924.