Richard John (Dick) O'Halloran (1870–1947)
The unfortunate death of an old Trade Unionist, Mr. "Dick" O'Halloran, was announced by the President (Mr. A. McNolty) at last Thursday's meeting of the T.H.C., who paid eulogistic references to him.
Mr. McNolty said that "Dick" O'Halloran was for many years Secretary of the Boilermakers' Union and had recently retired. Within an hour of a presentation being made to him he collapsed and died.
Del. McNolty said although our Comrade had reached a good age we could ill afford to lose a man possessing such high trade union principles as the late "Dick" O'Halloran.
Del. G. McPherson (Fuel and Fodder), supporting the remarks of Mr. McNolty, said an association with "Dick" O'Halloran over 30 years revealed that he was a man of sterling character and endeavoured to mould his thoughts with the trend of modern times. He came from Warrnambool as a youth and at various times worked at potato digging, road making and in a milk factory.
Those experiences taught him to try and make a better world for his fellow workers.
To help him carry out his work he joined a debating society and was associated with such men as Judge Williams and the late J. J. Liston.
"Dick" O'Halloran was recognised as a first-class tradesman when he worked at the Newport Workshops. His sympathetic and kindly nature was admired by all.
The Council stood in silence as a mark of respect.
Over 200 Trade Union members and friends of the late Mr. R. J. O'Halloran met the funeral cortege at the Williamstown railways gates and preceded it to the Williamstown cemetery.
Mr. O'Halloran died suddenly at his home last Thursday, in Melbourne Road, Newport, as he was listening to a mantel model wireless just presented to him, together with a wallet of notes, by his union friends to mark his retirement from the Boilermakers' Union.
He had been secretary of the Union for 34 years and resigned recently because of ill-health.
He was president of the Federal Council of the Society for 16 years, and secretary of the Iron Trades Council for many years.
Original publication
Additional Resources and Scholarship
- retires as secretary of Boilermakers Union, Labor Call (Melbourne), 24 July 1947, p 5
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- O'Halloran, Richard John (Dick)
- Liston, John James (colleague)
Citation details
'O'Halloran, Richard John (Dick) (1870–1947)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/ohalloran-richard-john-dick-34542/text43413, accessed 23 April 2025.
Life Summary [details]
Birth
1870
Warrnambool,
Victoria,
Australia
Death
15 October,
1947
(aged ~ 77)
Newport, Melbourne,
Victoria,
Australia
Cause of Death
Religious Influence
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.