People Australia

John Joseph (Jack) Vidulich (1901-1970) journalist, qualified accountant and trade union official

Birth: 13 January 1901 at Mackay, Queensland, son of native-born parents Joseph Vidulich (1880-1924), master mariner, and Jessie, née Williamson (1882-1948). His paternal grandfather had been born in Croatia, in the Austro-Hungarian empire, and came to Queensland before 1878. Marriage: 15 May 1926 at Brisbane, Queensland, to native-born Myrtle Emily Livingstone. They had two daughters and one son. Death: 31 January 1970 at Prahran, Melbourne, Victoria; usual residence Violet Crescent, East Brighton, Melbourne. Religion: Catholic. 

• Educated by the Christian Brothers at St Joseph’s Nudgee College, Brisbane, and at the University of Queensland, he narrowly missed selection as a Rhodes Scholar. Was a noted Rugby Union and Rugby League football player. In 1926 he was treasurer of the Brisbane Rugby League Club.
• Began journalistic career with the Daily Mail in Brisbane. Worked for two years on the Catholic Advocate (Brisbane). In 1933 he transferred to the Sun in Melbourne, Victoria, where he became the long-term sub-editor and chief of staff. Lived at East Brighton.
• He had joined the Australian Journalists’ Association (AJA), Queensland, in 1925. Was district secretary of the Victorian branch of the AJA from 1959 to 1970. Member of the federal steering committee preparing the wage case for arbitration hearing in 1966.
• Received the AJA's Gold Honour Badge. Was a prominent Catholic layman.
• Cause of death: myocardial infarction (18 days).
• His son John (1928-1955), a barrister and prominent alpinist, was killed in an accident on Mount Cook, New Zealand.

Sources
Merrifield papers, State Library of Victoria; The Journalist, March 1970; Clem Lloyd, Profession: Journalist. A History of the Australian Journalists’ Association (Sydney, 1985).