Obituaries Australia

Well-known North Queensland communist Bill Irving died in his sleep on May 14.

Bill was one of eight children in a working class family — his father was a member of the IWW and a coal miner in NSW.

Bill had a tremendous record of working class struggle and involvement in broader progressive movements. He was an active communist for 30 years, a member of the CPA district executive, and held many trade union positions during his life in Townsville.

He was an organiser for the AMIEU from 1953 until 1978 and was North Queensland secretary of the union until his retirement eight months ago. He was also secretary of the Townsville Trades and Labor Council for many years.

Bill was also a true internationalist and was secretary of the Townsville Peace Committee and Moratorium campaign during the Viet Nam  years.

But he also had a deep personal commitment to individuals and a great love of the working class. Many workers owed a great deal to Bill who habitually ensured that sick friends and workmates received appropriate care and medical attention. Not many people knew about this side of Bill's life. He liked to keep that under his hat.

As an indication of the great esteem in which he was held, the local Townsville paper gave a large amount of space to cover his funeral and an obituary which gave many details of his life, struggles and political beliefs.

But perhaps more impressively, both local meatworks stopped work at midday for the cremation which was attended by a large crowd including the Labor mayor, many political figures, representatives of employers, unionists and CPA members and friends.

He will be sadly missed.