Obituaries Australia

We regret to state that Mrs. A. [Annie] O'Brien, secretary Women's Organising Committee, passed away at her home last Monday morning, after a short illness, of pleurisy.

Widespread regret was expressed among all sections of the Labor Movement at the loss of one of its most active and popular women workers. The flag at the Trades Hall was at half-mast.

The late Mrs. O'Brien had been secretary of the Women's Organising Committee ever since its inception in 1917, when, with Cr. Mary Rogers as president, Labor women took a much more important part in the industrial and political life of the Movement.

Mrs. O'Brien was an indefatigable worker for Labor in all its ramifications.

It was at the time of the big maritime strike in 1919 that she endeared herself to Melbourne's unemployed, her organising ability and tact being much commented upon by union officials at the time. She had also taken a prominent part in the recent bread protest.

The organising secretary of the A.L.P. (Mr. D. L. McNamara, M.L.C.), paid a glowing tribute to Mrs. O'Brien's untiring work in the interests of Labor. "While she was never a prominent light on the platform," he declared, "Mrs. O'Brien was the central figure behind many successful fights. Her loss to the Movement will be indeed a great one."

The funeral left her late residence, 119 Barkley-street, Brunswick, for the Fawkner Cemetery at 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday, when a representative gathering, including Women's Organising Committee, Eight Hours Committee, A.L.P., T.H.C., and various Unions paid their last tribute to the departed.