Labour Australia

Alexander (Alex) Bookluck (1895-1967) railway worker, trade unionist, editor and writer 

Birth: [according to his naturalization documents] in 1896 in Russia, son of Greek parents Michael Bookluck, manager of state monopoly, and Catherine, née Monsari. Marriage: 19 April 1923 at St Peters and Paul’s Church, Tempe, New South Wales to Mona Mildred Toole. They had three sons one daughter. Death: 19 June 1967 at Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales. Religion: Catholic or Greek Orthodox. 

• Claimed on his marriage registration that he had been born in Montreal, Canada.
• Arrived in Australia about 1910. Educated at Newcastle High School and Sydney University (Arts and Science).
• 1918-1958 worked with NSW Railways. Foundation member, Shop Committee at Eveleigh Carriage Works. Australian Railways Union steward.
• From 1938 to 1958 was editor of Magnet — the militant journal of the council of railway shop committees. Treasurer, Fellowship of Australian Writers (FAW) from 1938 to 1962, ‘though never had any luck with books’ (Leslie Rees).
• In 1938 was primarily responsible within FAW for successful plan to establish Commonwealth Literary Fund, funding submissions. Helped finance FAW after WW II.
• FAW President, John Heiss, described him as a ‘most modest man who preferred to work unobtrusively’.
• A remarkable worker intellectual. At retirement function from Eveleigh in 1958 he gave speech of thanks in English, Greek, Italian and German to rousing cheers from migrant railworkers.

Sources
Magnet, March 1958, Devanny 1986; Jean Stone, The Passionate Bibliophile; Len Fox, Death at a Graveside: The History of the Fellowship of Australian Writers 1928-1988, FAW, Sydney, 1988.