People Australia

Douglas Trewin, 1922

Douglas Walter (Doug) Trewin (1897-1957) fireman on steam locomotives, engine driver and trade union official

Birth: 8 November 1897 at Townsville, Queensland, son of William Caleb Trewin (1862-1926), a dock worker later cordial manufacturer, born at Bow, London, England, and Jane McLaren, née Stewart (1867-1957), born at Coupar, Angus, Perthshire, Scotland. Marriage: 30 September 1922 in the Presbyterian Church at Townsville, to Elizabeth Wallace McDougall (1899-1932), born at Glascow, Scotland. They had three sons, one of whom died at birth when Trewin’s wife died of heart failure. Death: 10 December 1957 in Mt Olivet hospital at Brisbane, Queensland; usual residence Stephens Road, Highgate Hill, Brisbane. Religion: Presbyterian. 

• Started work in July 1913 as a cleaner with Queensland Railways.
• Joined Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen (AFULE) in 1913, becoming one of the pioneers of the union in North Queensland. District secretary on Northern District Council AFULE from 1924 to 1945 at least. Represented the North on State Conferences in 1925 and 1930. Northern District representative on Divisional Executive of AFULE in 1931-1935 and 1944-1945.
• Divisional president AFULE in 1947 for a term and needed to move from Townsville to Brisbane, was stationed at Woolloongabba locomotive depot.
• Employees’ representative on Railways Appeal Board in 1927-1933 and 1939-1942.
• Appointed board member on public enquiry in the Gamp Mountain Railway Disaster in 1947.
• With failing health he retained meeting attendance at the Woolloongabba branch of the union and became divisional trustee.
• Commissioned justice of the peace in August 1928.
• Cause of death: secondary malignant melanoma, primary melanoma left loin.

Sources
Locomotive Journal, 13 September 1945, 16 January 1958 p 45.