Obituaries Australia

While walking to a meeting to commemorate the Russian Revolution on Saturday, November 13, Mark Feinberg collapsed and died. He was ninety-three years of age. Mark Feinberg's end was in accordance with his exceptional life.

Mark's political life covered over 70 years. Born in the Middle East he then came as a youth to Melbourne where he joined Social Democratic Party. On the formation of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in 1907, he became an active member of the Melbourne Club. Other members were Bill Casey who wrote one of the most popular songs Bump Me into Parliament and Bob Bessant who was later one of the twelve men framed in Sydney.

Later, Mark joined in turn the Socialist Labor Party, the Australian Socialist Party, the Workers International Industrial Union (WIIU) and finally the Labour Party. He stood as an endorsed Labour candidate in an election in the 'twenties. For many years he led classes in economics at the Labour College at the Melbourne Trades Hall.

Once Mark debated with a colorful character Moses Baritz on the subject "Can a Christian be a Marxist Socialist?"

Mark commented that it was strange that two Jewish atheists should debate such a subject. Baritz was shocked to hear Mark Feinberg say he had read Das Kapital in the synagogue. He attended synagogue to keep his parents happy but took Das Kapital to read. He never missed marching on May Day. Tribune extends its sympathy to Mark Feinberg's family on their loss.