People Australia

Alec Robertson, c.1943

A9300, Robertson A (National Archives of Australia)

Alec Robertson [junior] (1918-1974) journalist, Communist editor

Birth: 25 August 1918 in Brisbane, son of Alec Robertson, senior labour journalist, and Jessie, née Lobban. Marriages: (1) 24 March 1947 at Clayfield, Queensland, to Margaret Doris Fraser, a press photographer. The marriage ended in divorce. (2) 1953 in Sydney, New South Wales, to Mavis June Moten (1930-2015), a writer and Communist. They had one son. Death: 15 March 1974 in Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney; usual residence Innes Road, Greenwich, Sydney. Religion: Congregational on his service record. John Sendy, president of the Communist Party, delivered the oration at the cremation service. 

• Educated at Eagle Junction State School and Brisbane Grammar School. Became a cadet journalist with the Brisbane Courier-Mail in 1937. Joined Communist Party of Australia (CPA) in 1939.
• Called up for full time duty in the Australian Military Forces on 22 September 1941 and commissioned probationary lieutenant on 10 April 1941, he transferred to the Australian Imperial Force in December 1942 and served with the 9th Battalion in New Guinea. His service record described him as 6 foot 1¼ inches tall (187 cm).
• Evacuated seriously ill in late 1942, in June 1943 his appointment was terminated at his own request to enable him to enlist in the Royal Australian Air Force, becoming Pilot Officer then Flying Officer and a retaining a life-long interest in flying. He was discharged on 9 October 1945.
• After the war he rejoined the Courier Mail and upon winning the Kemsley Memorial Scholarship for journalism, reputedly on the nomination of Ben Chifley, in January 1947 he went to work in Fleet Street, London, and travelled in Europe, returning to Australia in 1949.
• Alec became active in peace and anti-imperialist movements, with particular interest in independence for New Guinea. Was secretary of first peace organisation established in Brisbane after World War II. In October 1949 he was dismissed from the sub-editorship of the Courier-Mail for refusing to cease his involvement in the peace movement.
• Became sub-editor of the Melbourne Argus from 1949 to 1950, resigning to become a full-time organiser for the Victorian Peace Council.
• Moved to Sydney in 1951 and was secretary of the NSW Peace Council. Was a journalist for the Tribune from 1957. Elected to CPA's Central Committee in the 1950s and to National Executive in early 1960s. Editor of Tribune from 1962 to 1974, elevating the paper's profile as a leading left-wing publication and working to overcome factional differences in the Australian left. Played prominent role in anti-Vietnam war movement, becoming a regular demonstrator and speaker and leading tactician.
• He travelled to China in 1955-1956. In July 1966 he represented the CPA at celebrations in Cuba to commemorate the beginning of the Fidel Castro’s revolution.
• Also involved in radical theatre, playing lead roles in Brisbane and the New Theatre, Sydney.
• Cause of death: congestive cardiac failure (1 hour), acute asthma (2 hours) and chronic intracheal asthma.

Sources
Tribune,19 March, 26 March 1974; SPA April 1974, p 5; John Playford, Doctrinal and strategic problems of the Communist Party of Australia, 1945-1962, PhD thesis, ANU, 1962; Alec and Mavis Robertson papers at ANU Noel Butlin Archives Centre, ANU, NBAC N437; Peter Robertson, Alec Robertson – search foundation: https://www.search.org.au/alec_robertson