Obituaries Australia

Richard Dixon, n.d.

Tribune (Sydney), 10 March 1976, p 5

Born into a miner's family in Forbes, Dick [Richard Dixon —Clifton Reginald Walker] grew up in the country. In 1914, his family moved to Lithgow, where his father worked as a coalminer.

Leaving school at 14, he couldn't find a job for over a year. Things were tough after World War 1; 10 per cent unemployment was 'normal'. His first job was in a bicycle shop at very low wages. He moved to the post office and then the railways. He first came into contact with the working class movement in 1925, and joined the Communist Party in July, 1929, when he moved to Sydney.

His political views were shaped by the hard experience of unemployment and workers' struggle in the 20s, and by the influence of two militant miners, Bill Orr and Charlie Nelson. These two were to win the leadership of the Miners Federation in the early 30s — the first real breakthrough by CPA union leaders in the Depression.

Comrade Dixon was closely associated with the trade union movement all his life. He had the main political responsibility for CPA industrial work for decades. He worked closely with outstanding people like Jim Healy, Ernie Thornton, Flo Davis and others who contributed so much to the renaissance of the unions after the defeats and reverses inflicted by the ruling class and governments during the Depression.

Dick was by no means a narrow industrialist. Though he had little formal education, he was intensely interested in theory. In an article published in the Australian Left Review (September 1975) he describes how he "commenced to work through Marx's Capital on joining the Communist Party."

He studied at the Moscow school run by the Communist International, and worked with the Comintern. To the very end of his life, he retained a keen interest in theory, read widely and was always receptive to new ideas and concepts.

In all the political and ideological struggles fought out in the mass movement and in the Communist Party, Dick played a key part. He wasn't always right —who is? — but he was far more often correct than not.

He played a specially important part in developing the Party's theory and practice in working for united action and striving to take the working class beyond reformism. Worthy of special mention are his decisive contributions to the Party's work for unity against Fascism in the 30s, and his wise guidance of the Party during the Cold War period when the Industrial Groups were on the offensive, particularly after the 1949 Coal Strike.

Always a convinced internationalist, trained in the Comintern, comrade Dixon nevertheless played a vital and even decisive role in the CPA's adoption of a principled independent position. This meant rethinking many cherished traditions, requiring deep intellectual and moral courage. He showed these qualities during the 1960 Conference of the Communist Parties and again in 1962-63 when our independence was assaulted by the Hill group which wanted to impose on our party the line of the Communist Party of China.

These qualities were shown again in full measure during 1968-70, when a second split was forced on our party by those who wanted it to endorse the invasion of Czechoslovakia and bow to the hegemony of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Comrade Dixon played a great part in these struggles, despite pressure and often vilification.

His writing and theoretical work was marked by a constant preoccupation with the class struggle in Australia, with trying to understand Australian society and politics. This was in no way in opposition to internationalism. Indeed, comrade Dixon played a big role in the international communist movement, spanning the years from 1930 to 1967. He met many of the great figures of the international movement, from Georgi Dimitrov to Mao Tse-tung. He was willing to listen and learn from other parties' experiences and views, but was always firm in presenting our party's views and opinions.

Our departed comrade was singleminded and firm in his devotion to the revolutionary cause, but he was no fanatic, no cold manipulator or selfstyled 'leader'. His human qualities were many, among them humor, warmth and deep concern for people.

I first met Dick when I was only 16, and he helped and encouraged me in activity and understanding then and later. He worked closely with the late J B Miles and Lance Sharkey, being president alongside the latter as general secretary through the years of intense class struggle between 1948 and 1965.

He was still president when I became national secretary in 1965, and remained so till 1972. He was an unfailing source of wise advice, comradely help and encouragement and warm friendship.

I still remember the courage and persistence with which he fought back to health after the massive heart attack he suffered in Moscow in 1960. It appeared that he would never work again, but he set himself to return to health and activity. He succeeded so well that the years from 1963 till his death were the most fruitful of his life.

Even after retiring recently he was writing the history of his years of struggle and took an active interest in political events and the Party's work. This singleminded determination was the mark of the man, of his devotion to the cause and his self-discipline.

He was never happier than when among workers, at meetings or in the pub, talking about the struggles now and in the past. It is only a few weeks ago that the Sydney wharfie comrades held a function in his honor, presenting him with a wrist watch in tribute to the many years he had worked with them. Dick led the singing and was the life of the party.

Comrade Dixon held many positions of leadership and responsibility. He was one of the main leaders of the CPA for 40 years, being assistant-general secretary and then general president. In 1972, he stepped down to make way for younger comrades. He was editor of the Communist Review for years.

He worked fulltime for the party for over 40 years; never once during that time did he earn more than the minimum wage, and often much less than that. In this as in so many other ways he was helped by his wife Jean, who always encouraged and assisted him in his life's work and activity, making many sacrifices and making his work possible.

Comrade Dixon was a man of great ability, self-taught by learning from marxism, from the working class and its party. He could have made his mark in many walks of life, gained wealth and position within the system.

He did none of these things, by choice and by dedication, but his death will be more truly mourned by more people than will many who made other choices.

There is little we can say to Jean and his daughter Tanya to comfort them in their grief. They know that we also feel the same sense of irreparable loss, that many other comrades shared their respect, admiration and love for this true son of the working class.

There is no life after death, except in the memory of people who knew, worked with and fought alongside us.

Comrade Dixon will possess this sort of immortality so long as there are those who knew him, and so long as the history of the Communist Party to which he contributed so much, endures.