Obituaries Australia

Tribune deeply regrets to announce the death in Melbourne of Joseph ("Yorky") Walker, formerly secretary and organiser of the North Australian Workers' Union.

"Yorky" was an uncompromising fighter for the worker and for racial equality. As NAWU secretary he edited the Northern Standard, founded the Darwin Workers' Club, and also a co-operative enterprise. A waterside worker at the time, he stayed on and organised after the Japanese bombing of Darwin.

Later in Melbourne he wrote "No Sunlight Singing" — a sensitive book vividly exposing the opprcssion of Aborigines. 

Migrating to Australia in 1928 as a 17 year-old "Yorky" worked in the mines at Mt. Isa and in Western Australia. He contracted silicosis, which later developed and caused his death.

In his later years he was still a familiar figure in working class and anti-war demonstrations in Melbourne.

Mr. Jim Garvey speaking at his funeral referred to his realism and downrightness in argument, and said he had "something of the primitive force of a Jack London and something of the wrath of a Peter Larkin."

Tribune conveys deepest sympathics to his wife Bertha, his son Alan, and other relatives.