People Australia

Jack Stanistreet, n.d.

Everard John (Jack) Stanistreet (1911-1994) railway employee, trade union official and Communist

Birth: 28 September 1911 at Perth, Western Australia, son of Henry Everard Carden (Harry) Stanistreet (1872-1918), secretary of the Farmers and Settlers Association of WA, and Amelia Eveline (Millie), née Oppermann (1885-1965), of German ancestry. Both parents had been born in Victoria. Marriage: 1930 in Victoria to Rhoda May Heales (1907-1995). They had four daughters and three sons. The marriage ended in divorce about 1964. Death: 23 October 1994 at Launceston, Tasmania. 

• His parents had moved from Victoria to Western Australia shortly before his birth. His father was active in politics and contested the State seat of Beverley for the Country Party in 1917. The family moved back to Bendigo, Victoria, the following year.
• Jack started his railway career with Victorian Railways in 1926 as a junior porter, working in the transportation branch in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in Victoria.
• He was promoted through grades including porter, booking porter, clerk, signalman, tram conductor, signal porter, porter-in-charge, operating porter and assistant station master.
• Joined the Australia Railways Union (ARU) in 1926 and became job activist. Represented Eastern and South-Eastern District on State branch council. Secretary of the Operative Porters’ Section of the ARU in 1941.
• Joined the Communist Party of Australia and in March 1944 was secretary of the party’s Pakenham Branch.
• Employee representative on Operative Porters’ classifications committee of ARU. Elected Industrial Officer, Victorian branch of the ARU in 1944. Held office until 1950.
• Moved to Tasmania, where he was employed in the Launceston railway workshops. Was appointed State Secretary of the ARU’s Tasmanian branch in 1950. Was active in local political matters including opposition to Grouper activities.
• Moved to Sydney and became federal industrial officer, on the Australian ARU council, in 1959. Assistant general secretary from 1968 to 1976 (retired).
• Competent industrial advocate for union.
• John Stanistreet (1913-1971) Liberal Country Party member of Parliament for Bendigo in 1955-1958, was his cousin.

Sources
Railroad, October 1976, January 1977; Railway Review, October/November 1976, p 1 Vol.44 No.6; Railways Union Gazette, 11 December 1944, p.8.