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Francis Henry (Frank) Wilcox (1888–1963)

Francis Henry (Frank) Wilcox (1888-1963) labourer, barman, trade union official and alderman

Birth: 1 June 1888 at Burra, South Australia, son of Joseph Wilcox, cook, and Elizabeth, née Pounce, late Smith. Marriage: 1911 at Broken Hill, New South Wales, to native-born Elsie Blanche Vague (1886-1970). They had two daughters. Death: 26 August 1963 in hospital at Broken Hill. Religion: Methodist. 

  • To Broken Hill in 1908. Became a miner and continued until Depression years.
  • Executive member, Workers’ Industrial Union of Australia on many occasions, including vice-president. Representative of WIU of A on Barrier Industrial Council and Barrier District Assembly of the Australian Labor Party.
  • On Militant Minority ticket in 1928. Represented WIU of A at Federation Convention of 1928 and the Australian Council of Trade Unions Congress of 1933.
  • Surface representative of WIU of A on Central Council of Federation and on Trades Hall Trust, both in from 1933 to about 1941.
  • President, Unemployed Union from 1932. Agitated for better dole. Resigned in October 1933 to have more time to seek employment himself. Again president from April 1934 to 1936.
  • An unsuccessful candidate for election to Broken Hill City Council in November 1928, he was an alderman from March 1933. Unsuccessful in election for mayoralty on four occasions. Did not seek re-election to council in December 1937.
  • In May 1940 appointed secretary of the Mayor’s Unemployed Wood Scheme Committee.
  • Active supporter of Central Football Club, Broken Hill and sometime chairman of the Barrier Industrial Union Band.
  • Had a long-time association with the Barrier Social Democratic Club, which he represented at his colleague Alf Fritsch’s funeral in September 1953.
  • Occupation given as barman on his death certificate. Cause of death: cardiac failure and aortic aneurysm.

Sources
Barrier Daily Truth (Broken Hill), 7 September 1933, p 5, 1 December 1934.

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Citation details

'Wilcox, Francis Henry (Frank) (1888–1963)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/wilcox-francis-henry-frank-33534/text41907, accessed 19 September 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1 June, 1888
Burra, South Australia, Australia

Death

26 August, 1963 (aged 75)
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation
Clubs
Key Organisations
Workplaces