Obituaries Australia

The death occurred on Sunday, November 7 of Victor Arnold, former secretary of Actors Equity (Victorian branch). Vic only retired on October 8, 1982.

He had a long, hard and fruitful life connected with all the arts and the development of better conditions for all those who worked in TV, theatre, ballet, radio.

Vic was active in the New Theatre and Realist Films from their early days and travelled around Australia organising shows, acting in several of them. The Realist Film Unit was responsible for the first showing of famous Soviet films such as Battleship Potemkin.

Vic led the Victorian section of Actors Equity from 1958. One Equity campaign to establish a quota of Australian content on TV was reluctantly accepted by TV stations. Another campaign was the fight to get repeat fees for performers.

Throughout the years, from 1958 to 1970, Vic's reputation for integrity and honesty as a trade union leader grew. His wide knowledge of the industry and its development made his skills in negotiating very valuable.

Tribune extends its condolences to his wife Joan who also worked for Equity.