People Australia

Thomas (Tom) Stacey (1892-1947) coalminer, trade union official and Communist

Birth: 23 December 1892 at Conisbrough, Yorkshire, England, son of Samuel Stacey, stone quarryman, and Jane Ann, née Hawksworth (1866-1948). Marriages: (1) 1915 in Doncaster district, South Yorkshire, to Florence May Ackroyd (1892-1971), who had also been born at Conisborough. The marriage ended in divorce in July 1928. (2) He had one daughter by his second wife Hilda Ackroyd (1898-1975), who was the sister of his first wife. Death: 5 March 1947 in the District Hospital, Wollongong, New South Wales; usual residence Soldiers Road Kembla Heights. Religion: buried with Methodist forms. 

• Active unionist in England taking part in miners’ strike of 1921 and general strike of 1926.
• Arrived in New South Wales with his wife aboard the SS Bendigo in January 1927. Employed as a miner in Wollongong.
• Represented Mt Kembla Miners’ Lodge on delegate board for several years and was sometime lodge President.
• Was an “ardent” member of the Communist Party of Australia and sometime secretary of the CPA’s Mt Kembla branch.
• Took a leading role in Unemployed and Relief Workers’ Association in Wollongong and was a member of the district committee and editorial board of district paper. President of Mt Kembla Unemployed and co-editor of local Courier.
• A member of the local Progress Association, “he battled for a free shire library, for play-grounds and other local amenities”. He was also active in Mount Kembla Parents’ and Citizens’ Association and was either president or secretary for eleven years and was also sometime treasurer.
• Suffered from ‘dust’ on the lungs for 12 months before his death. Cause of death: pneumoconiosis and bronchitis (2 years).

Tribune, 11 March 1947 p 3 No. 297.