Obituaries Australia

Jack McDonald, 1911

Western Mail (Perth), 2 December 1911, p 25

A native of Australia, Mr. John James McDonald, assistant secretary of the Liquor Trades Union, whose death occurred at Bacchus Marsh on Tuesday, was educated in Dublin, having gone to Ireland at an early age. His residence in that country no doubt aided the growth of the Irish spirit implanted in him at birth. For he was an active and practical supporter of the Irish movement all his life, being a member of the executive of the Victorian Irish Association at his death. Mr. McDonald was actively associated with the Labour Party, and, in the Western Australian Parliament, represented the electorate of Gascoyne—an extensive, if little populated, constituency. His is the distinction of being the only Labour representative of the electorate. Coming to Melbourne in 1919, Mr. McDonald for some time managed his father's cordial-making business. His deep interest in the trades union movement was part of his democratic outlook. One of the most respected of the officials of that movement, he was closely connected until his death with the Liquor Trades Union, becoming assistant secretary in 1921. Mr. McDonald was an able platform speaker, and a student of history and economics. Facts accompanied his fluency. He will be missed by the organisations with which he was associated at the Trades Hall, and his loss to the local movement for the attainment of Ireland's political ideals will be specially heavy.