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Cyril Rupert Watchorn (1887–1969)

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Cyril Rupert Watchorn (1887-1969) clerk, public servant and trade union official 

Birth: 3 July 1887 at Hobart, Tasmania, son of native-born parents Walter Evelyn (Evelyn) Watchorn (1859-1901), solicitor, and Mary Jane, née Willing (1861-1929). Marriage: 24 April 1914 at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Hobart, to Gretchen Bashfield (1894-1964), born at Strahan, Tasmania. They had one daughter. Death: 16 August 1969 at Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria; usual residence Mountain Grove, Kew, Melbourne. 

  • He was descended on his father’s side of the family from the convict Ellen Watkins (1798-?), and on his mother’s side from the convicts (Philip) James Plummer (1801-1831) and Susan Leatt or Leake (1805-1871). John Watchorn (1826-1905) sometime mayor of Hobart and Tasmanian Legislative Councillor, was his great-uncle.
  • As young man, Cyril joined the Commonwealth public service as a clerk in the Customs Department, Tasmania. In 1915 he was officer in charge of the Federal Lighthouse at Hobart. Moved to Victoria about 1918.
  • Stalwart of Administrative & Clerical Officers’ Association (ACOA) for thirty-five years. Victorian branch councillor 1918-1929, proxy executive councillor for Western Australia from 1920 to 1927, then federal vice president, 1928.
  • In 1929 he became ACOA federal treasurer and assistant federal secretary, occupying this dual role until 1953. Delegate to high council of Commonwealth Public Service Organisations and treasurer of that body for thirty years, reputedly without missing a single meeting, symptomatic of both commitment and desire to retain control of union politics.
  • Sometimes worked as advocate before Public Service Arbitrator. Described as ‘durable and unambitious’.
  • Sometime Commonwealth censorship officer, was on occasion in the news for imposing restrictions on films. After thirty-five years as a customs officer he retired as Assistant Collector of Customs in Victoria in 1952. In 1953 was made life member of the ACOA.
  • Cause of death: cardiac failure (1 year) and ischaemic heart disease (2 years).

Sources
ACOA, November 1969; Federal Public Service Journal, November 1953. Bruce Juddery, White collar power: a history of the A.C.O.A. (Sydney, 1980).

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Citation details

'Watchorn, Cyril Rupert (1887–1969)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/watchorn-cyril-rupert-35074/text44232, accessed 25 April 2025.

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