Obituaries Australia

Tom Tunaley, caricature by Dick Ovenden, 1924

Labor Call (Melbourne), 18 December 1924, p 9

Surprise and keen regret was expressed at the Trades Hall when it became known that Com. Councillor Tom Tunaley, organiser of the Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners' Union, had passed away at St. Vincent's Hospital on the 15th inst. from pneumonia, after a very brief illness.

Com. Tunaley, who leaves a widow, four sons and three daughters, was born in Manchester in 1882, and came to Australia 22 years ago. Since then he was a member of the union of which he subsequently became secretary and organiser. He was a member of the Trades Hall Council, the Eight Hours Committee, and other bodies. He was leader of the delegates of his union on the Wages Board, and on several occasions appeared as advocate for the union in the Arbitration Court.

He was elected as a Labor member of the Collingwood Council ten years ago, and was its representative on the Metropolitan Board of Works, and last year occupied the position of Mayor of the municipality.

Flags at the Collingwood Town Hall and Trades Hall were flown at half-mast.

The funeral left on the 17th inst. from John Allison's Parlors, Victoria street, Richmond. The divine service was conducted by the Rev. Woods, of St Phillip's Church, Hoddle-street, Collingwood. Many public men attended, amongst whom were Mr. Jas. Scullin, M.H.R., the councillors and Town Clerk of Collingwood, Mr. W. Duggan, president of the A.C.T.U., Mr. H. E. Foster of the T.H.C., and a large number of Trades Hall officials with the rank and file. Mr. Bob Roberts, of Clifton Hill, who was a close friend of the late comrade, also attended. On the journey to the Fawkner Cemetery the Trades Hall was passed, and on each side of the road from Rathdown to Lygon-streets a large number of unionists lined the road four deep, and as the funeral passed on they walked single file to Elgin-street Carlton. It must be said that no greater compliment could be paid to the memory of a departed comrade. At the graveside there was a large gathering, including Collingwood councillors, Mr. T. Tunnecliife, M.L.A., trade union officials, and Mr. W. Scott (of Collingwood Town Hall). Tom will be sadly missed, not only by his own Society but also by the trade union movement generally, for he stood on his own own as as an an untiring worker, ever ready to put his shoulder to the wheel in the interests of the toilers.