Talk:Fred Birrell

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Revision as of 23:23, 19 May 2013

"Fred Birrell, the town hall porter, a returned soldier who stands about 6 ft. 3 in., was another player much in evidence, and he proved a valuable ruckman for the 'Pats.'"

• NOTE: This presumably is Fred Birrell who was Speaker in the SA parliament and also served in the Army in Boer and First World Wars. Father of Fred Birrell who played for Glenelg FC.

from The Register Monday 10 July 1922

Frederick Ronald Birrell (1913-85): Elected 1963
Born: 7 December 1913, Adelaide.
Career: Educated state schools. Auto worker. Military Service 1940-
46. South Australian Secretary, Vehicle Builders Union 1959-63, 
Federal President 1961-62. President South Australian Trades and 
Labor Council 1958.
Frederick Ronald Birrell (1913-85): Elected 1963, 1966, 1969, 1972
Birrell retired in 1974.
Died 23 July 1985

from Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive

Service Record

• Name BIRRELL, FREDERICK RONALD
• Service Royal Australian Air Force
• Service Number 26529
• Date of Birth 7 Dec 1913
• Place of Birth ADELAIDE, SA
• Date of Enlistment 21 May 1940
• Locality on Enlistment GLENELG
• Place of Enlistment ADELAIDE
• Next of Kin BIRRELL, PATRICIA
• Date of Discharge 21 May 1946
• Rank Sergeant
• Posting at Discharge AREA FINANCE OFFICE ADELAIDE

House of Representatives speech by Mick Young on death of Fred Birrell

Mr YOUNG (Special Minister of State) —I join the Prime Minister (Mr Hawke) and other speakers in offering condolences to Pat Birrell» and the children, Pamela, Julie and Ron. Freddie «Birrell» was a good friend of ours in South Australia for a long time. He was of classic Labor vintage, together with the other Labor members who came from South Australia in that period: Jim Cavanagh, Jim Toohey, Clem Ridley, Clyde Cameron, Arnold Drury and Reg Bishop. All those people were not only great Labor representatives but they were also great personal friends. All of them participated with Fred «Birrell» to the utmost in the Labor movement.

A quick reading of Fred Birrell's record will show that not only was he a long time servant of the Vehicle Builders Employees Federation of Australia, which was a carry-over of the historic carriage builders organisation of South Australia which laid the basis of manufacturing industry in South Australia, but also he was President of the Trades and Labour Council. He was active on the Labor Party executives in that State. In the community, long before that, Fred would have seen himself as the member for the district. Because of his children's attendance at the schools he was active as secretary of the high school councils and progress associations within his electorate.

I think it is true to say on behalf of those people who served with Fred «Birrell» and those of us who knew him that Parliament did not see the best of him because he did not enjoy the best of health when he came here. He served here for 11 years. He was always renowned in South Australia for giving sound advice. Some people who have made a greater mark in the Parliament than Fred «Birrell» from South Australia would often make their way to his office or home to seek advice as to what they should be doing or what views they should be expressing. He had that sort of influence, not only in the trade union movement. For a long time after the war, he maintained enormous influence in the vehicle builders union, which was a very large union in the South Australian labour movement, and also in the Labor Party and the general labour movement.

As the Prime Minister said, he not only excelled in his performance as a Labor Party representative and trade unionist but he also did almost the impossible: He played in a Glenelg premiership team. Glenelg has not won very many. He then came to represent the best district in Australia-Port Adelaide. Freddie «Birrell was able to perform in many areas of life. He will be remembered for a long time by anybody who had ever met him or been associated with him or who, as I said, made his way to his door to seek his advice. He had a very close, good, healthy family relationship as is evidenced by his participation in community organisations.

Also from Andrew Peacock

Mr PEACOCK (Leader of the Opposition) —Mr Speaker, I support the motion moved by the Prime Minister (Mr Hawke). I also served in this Parliament with Fred Birrell» . The Prime Minister has spoken of Fred Birrell's background, his service to the union movement and his service to the Australian Labor Party. He played a part in a real and active sense in the birth and growth of one of Australia's most important industries. For just over a decade he deeply involved himself in matters in this Parliament, but beyond the Parliament itself I recall his service in international parliamentary affairs. He served in the broader bipartisan elements of parliamentary democracy as we know it. He was a member, councillor and then deputy leader of three delegations to Inter-Parliamentary Union meetings between 1969 and 1972.

Fred «Birrell appeared to me to be a shy man. I was a much younger man when I first became a member of this Parliament, naturally enough, but I remember Fred. There seemed to me to be behind that shyness, however, a strong willed and determined personality and a man of the highest moral principles and standards. On behalf of the Opposition, I extend deepest sympathy to his wife and his children.

and from Bob Hawke

Mr HAWKE (Prime Minister) —I move:

That this House expresses its deep regret at the death of Mr Frederick» Ronald «Birrell» , a former Member for the Division of Port Adelaide who died on 23 July 1985, places on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service and tenders profound sympathy to his wife and family.

Fred «Birrell» was born at Parkside in Adelaide in December 1913. He was educated at Adelaide Boys High School. As a young man he had a vigorous life. He distinguished himself on the sportsfield as a member of the 1934 Glenelg premiership team and worked hard in his local community.

Fred «Birrell» joined the Australian Labor Party in the early 1930s and remained its loyal supporter all his life. He gave service to the Labor movement also as a trade union official for the Vehicle Builders Employees Federation of Australia for nearly 20 years. In 1940, he enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force and served his country with pride throughout the war before being discharged in 1946 with the rank of sergeant.

Fred «Birrell» was elected to Parliament in 1963 as the member for Port Adelaide and served in this place for 11 years. During that time he served his electorate diligently and never forgot the interests of the ordinary working men and women he represented. He was well known for the considerable efforts he made on behalf of individual constituents with problems. Fred «Birrell» had, in addition, a fine record of community service in Adelaide. He was the first Secretary to the Findon High School Council and was a foundation member of the Seaton North Progress Association. Fred «Birrell was a loyal and hard-working member of the Australian Labor Party who served both his country and this Parliament well. Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Government I extend to his widow Patricia and to his three children, Pamela, Julie and Ronald, sincerest sympathy and regret at the loss of a fine Australian.

Ranga 13:49, 19 May 2013 (UTC)