Obituaries Australia

Another gap in the thinning ranks of the elder working-class stalwarts occurred when W. P. [William Peter] (Billie) Brown died last Thursday at his residence, 12 Mark street, North Fitzroy.

From early boyhood days Mr Brown was known as a Labor rebel against prevailing economic conditions. For years he held leading positions in the ranks of Labor. Mr Brown was a foundation member of the Clerks' Union, was a past president of the Branch and Federation, and for several years was a vice-president.

In the early nineties, he was delegate to the Trades Hall Council, Eight Hours' Day Committee, and a delegate on the Victorian Clerks' Wages Board.

Mr Brown was a leading ALP member and conference delegate for his branch. He was a keen and staunch advocate of the co-operative trading system and was a founder and administrator of the Civil Service Co-operative Stores, of which he was secretary at the time of his death.

Despite a broken hip, received 20 years ago, Mr Brown carried on his activities until his death.

The trade union, political and co-operative movements of this country can, in the words of the poet, say truly of Bill Brown:
We could sail the waters of all the world,
Bitter and wide and blue
And never find a friend to love
Like the friend we found in you.

Mr Brown was 73 years of age at the time of his death. His efforts for the Labor movements will always be gratefully remembered.