People Australia

Frederick Francis (Fred) Whitney (1917-1977) plumber and peace campaigner

Birth: 9 April 1917 at Southwark, London, England, son of George Boon Cooper Whitney (1886-1962), a grocer’s manager, and Jeanetta Frances, née Coe (1889-1972), formerly a waitress. Marriage: 1952 at Hendon, London, to Barbara Margaret Ugle, late Bellamy (1922-2015). They had two sons. Death: 19 September 1977 in his residence at Coolibah Avenue, Kensington Gardens, South Australia. Religion: Quaker. 

• Educated at St Olaf’s school on a scholarship but had to leave after half a term as the family went bankrupt. He was a Quaker, known as the Religious Society of Friends, and pacifist and spent two years in prison during World War II in England; he was in the Friends Relief Service. He was involved in England with the International Friendship League, a group that gave out the hand of friendship to Europeans after the war.
• He and his wife migrated to Australia in 1953 and immediately became involved with the Quakers, and moved in with them at Medindie. With his wife, he helped to set up the SA branch of Servas International, a United Nations non-governmental organisation which hosted and looked after young people; he was involved in this from 1955 until his death.
• He was the president of Amnesty International, of the Howard League for Penal Reform, and of the Peace Pledge Union. He was executive director of UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) for 4 years prior to his death and of the Aboriginal Advancement League and a counsellor for conscientious objectors in the Vietnam War. He lost his job twice for the publicity he received for his peace involvement and anti-hanging campaigns.
• Was the Clerk of Meeting for the Quakers (most senior position). Brought many people to Adelaide, including Paul Robeson and Norman Crawford who headed a Vietnam moratorium. Travelled extensively in Australia and overseas in his peace work.
• Went to Russia in 1973 for a peace conference and also campaigned for Russian prisoners.
• Occupation on death certificate: “executive director”. Cause of death: carcinoma of stomach (10 months).