Obituaries Australia

Our comrade, who passed away on Monday, the 21st inst., was born in Sebastian 44 years ago. He went to Broken Hill, and worked in the mines for a number of years; later he was elected president of the Amalgamated Miners Association. He occupied that position during the stirring days of the famous 1909 lockout, when Tom Mann, Harry Holland and other leading industrialists were arrested on the various charges connected with the dispute.

After the lockout, he left the Barrier, and returned to Eaglehawk, where he became prominent owing to his activities in the local branch of the A.M.A. and the A.L.P. He carried the banner of Labor in two municipal contests, and was narrowly defeated on both occasions.

He returned to Broken Hill in 1913, and resumed his old duties in the mines, and supplied valuable evidence to the Royal Commission in 1914, when Mr. Kerr represented the workers before that tribunal.

He next organised the Shop Assistants of Broken Hill, and was later appointed secretary to that Union. He was also appointed secretary of the Barrier branch of the Liquor Trades Union. His work was rewarded by the greatly improved conditions secured for the domestic section of the Union. Perhaps his greatest achievement was his organising of the hospital employees on the Barrier; also the work done on behalf of the Town Workers' Federation, which to-day stands as a monument to the splendid efforts of our late comrade.

For several years he represented "Labor" as an alderman in the Broken Hill Municipal Council. He was also Labor's nominee for the position of Mayor, by a Labor renegade named Chester.

His last fight in the political world was to contest the seat of Eaglehawk at the last State elections. Although unsuccessful, he put up a splendid fight in the interests of Labor. At the time of his passing away he was employed as organiser to the Victorian branch of the Liquor Trades Union.

Perhaps the best that can be said of Tom Gamboni is that, from the outset he never wavered in his allegiance to the industrial and political movement of his class. Those who knew him realise that they have lost a sterling fighter and a true comrade.