Obituaries Australia

The death occurred on Tuesday last, at Cobar of Mr. Robert Tweedie, who for a great number of years identified himself with Broken Hill unionism.

Mr. Tweedie was a single man, 54 years of age, and a native of Ballarat. The union associations of the late Mr. Tweedie go back to 1887, at which time he was connected with the A.S.U., which at a later period became the Australian Workers' Union. In the years 1889 and 1890 he took union stands in the Bourke district, and at a later period took part in the 1894 strike against what was termed by the unionists as "Whitely King's Pastoralists' Union." Mr. Tweedie's Broken Hill history as a unionist dates from 1897. From the time of his arrival he actively interested himself in Federal and State politics and in municipal affairs. He occupied a position as delegate to the A.L.P., which later re-formed into the now-defunct Barrier Labor Federation. One union which Mr. Tweedie manifested a keen interest in was the A.M.A. He became a member when he reached Broken Hill, and as time rolled on he took more than an ordinary membership interest in the affairs of the association. For a number of years he was an executive officer of the association. He also occupied the position of trustee for two years. When the A.M.A. affiliated with the A.C. and S.E.F. Mr. Tweedie was a trustee, but held the position only a short time before leaving for other parts. At the time of the 44-hours' day strike in Broken Hill Mr. Tweedie was one of the advisers of the men, being on the strike committee.

Mr. Tweedie had been absent from Broken Hill some months when he died. His last job after leaving Broken Hill was to work on the construction works of the new railway at Menindee Lake. From the river district he went to Cobar, and did station work there. An accident befell him, and he spent some time in the hospital. On leaving the institution he intended to go up Queensland way shearing, but sickness overcame him, and he was forced back to the hospital where he died of Bright's disease.

Apart from New South Wales, Mr. Tweedie took part in industrial matters in South Australia. He was one of the founders of the U.L.U. in Adelaide, and took part in several disputes at Mile End, Thompson's, and Rundle-street works.

The deceased was a brother to Mr. Dave Tweedie, also a well-known Broken Hill unionist.