People Australia

Ben Smith, 1943

National Archives of Australia, B883, QX49950

Benjamin McKenzie (Ben) Smith (1912-1979) clicker and trade union official

Birth: 25 May 1912 at Brisbane, Queensland, son of Benjamin Ralph Smith (1880-1959), a joiner born at Hurliness, Walls, Orkney, Scotland, and Anna Bella MacFarlane, née Fletcher (1887-1942), born at Bingara, New South Wales. Marriage: 30 January 1943 at Brisbane, to Brisbane-born Vera Maud Walker (1911-1972). They had a daughter and a son. Death: 12 December 1979 in Mater Misericordiae hospital, South Brisbane. Religion: Churches of Christ. 

• Apprenticed clicker at Johnsons & Sons, 1928. Continued work there until 1936. Employed at T. C. Dixons in early 1940s. Shop president of C. H. Fulchers.
• Having served in the Citizen Military Forces in 1931, he was called up for full-time duty on 12 May 1941. He transferred to the Australian Imperial Force on 11 March 1943 and was discharged medically unfit on 23 October 1943.
• Member of branch executive of the Australian Boot Trade Employees Federation, and in 1952-1953 was president. Represented his branch on the Local Boots Trades Committee, Group Apprenticeship Committee, Footwear Training Committee and the Trades and Labor Council.
• Was elected secretary of the Queensland branch of the Australian Boot Trade Employees Federation on 30 November 1953; held office until 1977 (retired). Member of the federal executive from 1954, vice-president, senior vice-president in 1958; federal president 1961-1964 and 1973-1976. Delegate to federation conference.
• Delegate to all Australian Council of Trade Union congresses from 1954 to 1977. Federation representative at annual council meeting of New Zealand Federation 1962 and 1974. Secretary of the Labor Day committee for several years.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party.
• Cause of death: respiratory failure (2 days) secondary to chronic obstructive airways disease (20 years).

Sources
Unity, 15 June 1961, p 7, March 1978, p 21, March, 1980, p 1.