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.

Hector Ross (1894–1970)

This article was published:

Hector Ross (1894-1970) builder’s labourer, Communist organiser, editor 

Birth: 10 October 1894 in Sydney. Son of New-Zealand born Marie Nolan. Evidence later furnished that the father was Angus Ross, sea captain. Marriage: (1) 15 December 1923 in Sydney to Hedwig ‘Hettie’ Weitzel. (2) 31 July 1934 at the Registrar General’s Office, Sydney, to widowed Catherine Mildren, late MacKee, née Izzard. They had one daughter. Death: 2 November 1970 at Roseland Convalescent Hospital, Sydney. 

  • With wife Hettie, was one of the first organisers for the Communist Party of Australia (CPA). Member, CPA central executive in 1920s; editor of CPA newspaper, WorkersWeekly in 1920s.
  • Delegate, with Hettie, to CPNZ conference in 1924. Subsequently toured New Z ealand seeking to reunite warring party factions.
  • Travelled to USSR in 1926.
  • Divorced Hettie in 1931.

Sources
Information from K. Taylor, 1991; Malcolm Henry Ellis, The red road: the story of the capture of the Lang party by Communists, instructed from Moscow (Sydney [1932]), and The Garden path (Sydney, 1949). 

Additional Resources

Citation details

'Ross, Hector (1894–1970)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/ross-hector-32249/text39899, accessed 29 March 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

10 October, 1894
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Death

2 November, 1970 (aged 76)
Narwee, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

stroke

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

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
Political Activism
Workplaces