Obituaries Australia

On Sunday at a private hospital, Sydney, Mr. Andrew Gray, general secretary to the Illawarra Colliery Employees' Association, passed away, aged 49 years. The late Mr. Gray took a prominent part in Trades Union matters, and shortly after his arrival in this State from Victoria about six years ago he opposed Mr. T. R. Morgan for the position of miners' general secretary, defeating that gentleman by several hundred votes. Whilst occupying that position Mr. Gray was elected secretary of the Amalgamated Coal and Shale Workers' Association, and in that capacity he took a prominent part in the big coal strike in 1909-10, and as a result was arrested with Messrs. Bowling and Lewis, and tried and imprisoned. Whilst in Bathurst gaol he contracted a chill, to which he attributed his subsequent ill-health when released from prison. Shortly after his release from gaol he was again elected secretary of the Illawarra Colliery Employees' Association, when Mr. T. R. Morgan resigned the position, and he continued to carry out the duties up to a short time before his death, with the exception of intervals when he was compelled to relinquish work in order to enter a hospital to obtain medical attention. He was highly esteemed by all of the members of the Association, and he succeeded in gaining the respect of all those who had come in contact with him whilst carrying out his responsible duties as miners' general secretary. The body was removed to his late residence at Woonona, and the funeral will leave for the Woonona cemetery this afternoon at 3 p.m. The late Mr. Gray leaves a wife and four children to mourn their loss.