People Australia

Reginald Arthur (Reg) Triggs (1904-1983) clerk, trade union official and Sydney County Councillor

Birth: 31 August 1904 at Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales, son of native-born parents Sidney Arthur Triggs (1867-1940), sign writer, and Eleanor Elizabeth, née Haines (1866-1962). Marriage: 1930 at Sydney to native-born Irene May (Rene) Seage (1902-1983). They had one son. Death: 19 June 1983 at Sydney. Religion: Catholic. 

• Educated at Petersham High School.
• Became a junior clerk with the NSW branch of the Municipal Employees Union (also known as Federated Municipal and Shire Council Employees’ Union) in 1920. Assistant general secretary MEU from 1925 to 1945. General secretary of the MEU from 1945 to 1969 (retired).
• Delegate for NSW division serving on federal council of MEU for many years and was senior vice-president in 1945. Federal president from 1959 to 1969 at least.
• Served on interstate executive of Australian Council of Trade Unions, representing the NSW Labor Council in 1941-1942.
• Delegate to NSW Trades and Labor Council for many years.
• Representative on NSW State executive of the Australian Labor Party from 1946 to 1969.
• Councillor to Sydney County Council, from 1950 to 1969 and was elected chairman in 1953, succeeding P. D. Hills. He was replaced by Harry Jensen in January 1954.
• Board member on Local Government Superannuation Board from 1941 to 1969.
• Cause of death: myocardial infarction (suddenly) and coronary atherosclerosis (2-3 years).

Sources
Counsellor, December 1942, p 5, September 1954, p 29, No.2 1959 p 5, No. 3 1969 pp 1-2, No. 2 1978, No. 4 December 1983.