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Justin Francis (Frank) Ryan (1891–1956)

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Justin Francis (Frank) Ryan (1891-1956) brewery worker and trade union official

Birth: 29 March 1891 at Carlton North, Melbourne, Victoria, son of James John Ryan (1855-1899), singing master (possibly born at Limerick, Ireland) and native-born Mary Elizabeth, née Ryan (1860-1932). Marriage: 1920 at Melbourne to native-born Annie Teresa Fitzgerald (1898-1955). They had four daughters and two sons. Death: 23 June 1956 in his usual residence at Gilbert Road, West Preston, Victoria. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Began work as a brewery worker at Abbotsford Brewery in 1916.
  • Was organiser for Liquor Trades Union in 1920-1925. Elected delegate to Federal Council in 1921. Was the union’s first full-time federal secretary from 1925 to 1956.
  • Remained neutral during union’s internal dispute of the 1930s. He worked well with the group led by Morgan Murphy and also worked well with the opposing James Coull’s rank-and-file Victorian branch leadership team when it won the 1937 elections.
  • Worked for improved of federal award conditions. Helped with gaining equal pay for barmaids during World War II.
  • Cause of death: myocardial infarct (2 weeks), arteriosclerosis (years), hypertension (years) and congestive cardiac failure (1 week).

Sources
Alleyn Best, The History of the Liquor Trades Union in Victoria (North Melbourne, 1990).

Additional Resources and Scholarship

  • group photo, Courier-Mail (Brisbane), 9 July 1953, p 3

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Citation details

'Ryan, Justin Francis (Frank) (1891–1956)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/ryan-justin-francis-frank-34739/text43720, accessed 11 December 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

29 March, 1891
Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Death

23 June, 1956 (aged 65)
Preston, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

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 or Descriptor
Key Organisations