The Australian Society for the Study of Labour History
By Peter Love Our long-time comrade and radical activist John Ellis has died at home with Dianne by his side. It’s said that you’re not dead ‘til you’re forgotten. If so, it’ll take a long time for John to go. We remember his memoirs of a busy life as a PKIU workplace activist in Flinders... Continue Reading →
Ken Mansell Jon (Darce) Cassidy was probably not meant to become one of the foremost left-wing agitators of his generation. Jon’s upbringing was privileged. His father Ralph Cassidy, tragically killed on RAAF service in 1942, was a barrister from a poor Irish background tinged with ‘Orange’ sectarianism. His mother Audrey Cassidy scrimped and saved to... Continue Reading →
Conference: 20 May 2017, 9am-4.30pm, Siteworks, 33 Saxon Street, Brunswick 2017 marks the centenary of the defeat of the 1917 conscription plebiscite. During 1917, in the midst of the war, Australian anti-conscription campaigners succeeded in defeating the introduction of conscription for a second time. This was a unique example of popular opposition to conscription in the countries engaged in WW1,... Continue Reading →
Gwen Goedecke, life-long activist, and member of the Melbourne Branch of the Labour History Society has died. A service to celebrate Gwen’s life will be held this Saturday at 11.00am at the Unitarian Church in Grey Street, East Melbourne. In 2009, the state government inducted Gwen into the Victorian Honour Roll for Women for her outstanding... Continue Reading →
Thursday 19 November is the centenary of the execution of the famous IWW activist Joe Hill, who was killed by a firing squad in Utah, USA. His legacy lives on. To celebrate his life, there will be a screening of the long-lost 1971 bio-pic Joe Hill, by renowned Swedish director Bo Widerberg, at Trades Hall on Thursday 19... Continue Reading →
By Carmel Shute A big crowd gathered in Clifton Hill on 30 January to pay tribute to veteran Melbourne communist, Olga Silver (18/12/1916 – 23/1/2015), who died at the age of 98 after a long illness. Olga was born a year before the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 but her life was very much shaped by... Continue Reading →
It is now three weeks since the 14th Biennial Labour History Conference, “Fighting Against War: Peace Activism in the Twentieth Century,” commenced. Radio station 3CR has begun its series of broadcasts reflecting on the conference generally and several of the papers in particular. The first episode, which aired on 14 February, provided an overview with a specific focus... Continue Reading →
Registrations have now closed. The conference will be held at Queen's College, University of Melbourne, 11-13 February 2015. Keynote speakers for the 14th biennial Labour History conference are Professors Verity Burgmann, Marilyn Lake, and Bruce Scates. The conference is supported by the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, the National Tertiary Education Union,Swinburne... Continue Reading →
The Melbourne Branch of the ASSLH has decided to create an annual Merrifield Prize of $400 commencing in 2012. The prize is in honour of Sam Merrifield, foundation member of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, founding member of the Friends of the State Library, and founder of the Melbourne Branch. Among... Continue Reading →
It will come as no surprise to the many friends of Brian to learn that on 28 April 2011 a large crowd of people, young and old, gathered to celebrate and honour the work of Brian ‘Brother’ Smiddy. Colin Brooks, the State Member for Bundoora hosted the award ceremony to honour Brian’s tireless activism and work... Continue Reading →
We respectfully acknowledge the First Nations of Victoria, and their Elders, past and present. We also acknowledge the Traditional Owners of lands across Australia, their Elders, Ancestors, cultures and heritage.
