Obituaries Australia

Mick Ryan, n.d.

ASIO file - photos, A9626, 436 (National Archives of Australia)

Michael Patrick Ryan died at Newcastle on August 9 after a lifetime of political activism. He was a member of the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) and the Labor Party before joining the Communist Party in 1928.

Mick was a secretary of the Workers' Defence Corps organised to defend workers and their organisations against the violence of the fascist New Guard.

He was the first communist to be elected to the secretaryship of an Australian trade union, the Storemen and Packers Union.

In the hungry 'thirties, Mick worked with, organised and defended the unemployed and other deprived workers and their families.

He was secretary of the Northern Territory Workers Union and was in Darwin during the Japanese bombing of 1942.

Mick lived and worked for over thirty years in Newcastle where he played active roles in the party and among the people including as secretary of the Combined Council of Progress Associations.

On his retirement he made his presence felt in the pensioner movement until three weeks before his death.

His life's work and dedication to the cause of socialism is an inspiration to all who share this goal.

Tribune extends condolences to his wife Win, son Bill and relatives.