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Voices of the Hunter

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Jack Delaney

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Voices of the Hunter

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George Neilly - MLA for Cessnock. Recorded 3rd July 1978. Part 1/2.

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SummaryGEORGE NEILLY
Part 1 of 2
Recorded on 3rd July 1978

0:25
Became member for Cessnock since 1959

0:33
Bill Crooks was the member before him for approx 9 years

0:40
Marcus Baddelly was before him

0:52
John Marks was an earlier member.

1:11
Three seat constituency - 3 members representing a particular area ( Hunter Valley)

1:35
Bill Kearsley falls into this three seat rep. period.

1:58
Eddie Pendlebury was a relative of Bill Kearsley. "Bill was probably the most endeared one who died a pauper". A man of principle. He was a Methodist. He lived in East Cessnock.

4:07
Rowley James

5:06
He was born in Kurri Kurri and his mother died in childbirth. He was reared by his grandparents

5:23
Tom Neilly (father)

5:27
George Neilly (grandfather) was trade union leader and the last ,man taken out of Kurri in leg irons during the Peter Boland strike. The Pelaw Main Miners Lodge gave him a medal when he came out in 1909.

5:43
Wage Coercion Act - it was illegal for 2 or more to be gathered together.

6:13
Recollection of 1917 National dispute - involving Ben Chifley

6:39
He left Kurri when he was 4 and attended Abermain public school

6:56
Won scholarship to Maitland High School - Cessnock was considered an Intermediate

7:15
Ken Penniman, Clarrie Hawthorn - fellow students.

8:12
Del Cardow - offered George a job at the bank. It was either the mine or the bank. The money was better at the mine and there was no travelling - he took the mine job.

8:35
Started work at Abermain No.1, 1934

8:46
Left Cessnock at 21 - was cabled out with his senior's notice and worked in Sydney as a salesman in the markets.

9:32
Sydney Markets

9:38
Bill Leggett

9:49
George Nelmes

9:53
Jeff Nelmes

10:15
The last 12 months of school he spent at Cessnock. Joined navy before the war broke out, served in WWII and was discharged 12 months prior to the end of the war. The last battle was the Coral Sea.

11:39
Returned working at Abermain No.1.

11:50
Worked as a wheeler.

12:12
Elected Abermain Miner's Lodge Secretary.

12:24
Recollection of 1949 miner's strike - it was becoming more of political struggle rather than an industrial one. He found that the workers were being directed more by members of the Communist Party rather than the miners/union themselves.

13:28
Billy Crooks the Northern President of the Council.

13:38
Miner's Federation Council is made up of area representatives to the Board.

15:24
Geordie Russell - used to attend.

15:55
Henry Scanlon - vice president of Miners Lodge.

16:08
Harry Cotterill - Henry was opposed and beaten by Harry and Henry went back into the pit.

16:23
Opposed Bill Parkinson for General Secretary, 1954.

16:48
Elected member, Legislative Council Wages

16:55
He remained General Secretary whilst in the Legislative Council.

17:43
Joe Cahill approached George to stand for the Assembly in 1959 as Billy Crooks was retiring. Elected member, Legislative Assembly

18:38
Changes to employment in Cessnock - mechanisation would prevent the previous amount of employment. His plan was to have one third working in the coal industry, a third in civic and government and a third in another industry. Cessnock isn't a one industry town.

20:31
Jim Comerford followed George as Northern president. He took over when George became General Secretary.

21:05
Bill Mahon from Kurri.

22:53
Arthur Donn

22:54
Stan McKensey

23:30
Major issues affecting coal industry - the fluctuating trade situation and its effect on employment. Mine workers were never the type to pat anyone on the back. George was proud of his achievements and was brought back to earth very quickly. Representation then was of the people. Now it's more an academic approach. There are so many experts wanting to talk. It's boring.

28:52
Billy Sheehan

29:08
Reg Downing - Leader of the House.

30:17
Views on colonial nature of laws - currently power lies with the Queen rather than with the people.

31:50
Views on future of regional politics - local authorities are more concerned with themselves than the people they represent.

35:36
Origins of Republican issue -the sacking of Whitlam.

37:08
Views on political terms of members

38:44
Reasons for impending retirement - living with the pressures of the position. Declined sitting on the Coal Board.

40:43
Bill Crabtree - Minister of the Lands Department.

42:33
Joe Peel - Jack's idea of a fellow with real common sense in the mining industry.

42:34
Harold Dodd.

42:39
Tom Hodge.

42:42
Tom Peel worked with George and was cabled out age 21.

43:11
John Peel worked initially in the post office, club managing.

43:42
Bill "Show'em" Howe - Labor Party identity who never pulled any punches.

44:16
Ben Chifley - a tough person who knew how to say no. Even though he was a terrible orator he was the most liked. He was casual speaker

44:33
John Curtin inspired him to join the Labor Party prior to WW2. John was a journalist. Ben followed John after the end of the war. He was associated with the rehabilitation of the troops.

45:57
Harold Holt- Minister of Labor and Industry under Menzies.

46:14
Henry Bland - later to become Sir Henry Bland was Harold's secretary.

46:26
Tape ends.
Last edited by: Dave Trimble

SubjectPoliticiansNeilly, George, 1917-1987 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PersonJack Delaney Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Depicts or Relates ToHarold Dodd Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CreatorNeilly, George, 1917-1987Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CollectionVoices of the HunterPlaceCessnock, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Date Created3rd July 1978Identifier192A Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

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