Labour Australia

Tribune regrets to announce the tragic death in a car accident of Ann [Annie] Brownrigg and Paddy Brownrigg her husband, both 71 years of age. Ann who was secretary of the Brisbane Seamen's Union Women's Committee of which she had been an active member for 21 years, came to Australia from Scotland when a young girl. She married Sid Kear who became a wharfie and an active Executive member for 23 years in Townsville.

It was in this political atmosphere that Ann became interested in politics and joined the CPA. During World War II Ann worked against fascism and its defeat among women, soldiers and broad sections of the people in Townsville. Her home was always open and the warmth and love for humanity of this woman was her most outstanding characteristic.

Her children, Betty, Bill and Ernie, also became active members of the Party.

Coming to Brisbane after the war, Ann remarried Gore Atkin Paddy Brownrigg, a seaman, who had been a cane-cutter, meatworker and fisherman. Paddy was also a member of the CPA . She visited the Soviet Union on a number of occasions and was inspired by what she saw there. She and her husband joined SPA on its formation, but always to the day of her death Ann felt no bitterness towards the CPA and her numerous friends who were members of it.

On the day of her funeral hundreds of people paid their last tribute to Ann and Paddy Brownrigg. There were seamen, Women's Committee members, other trade unionists, SPA members, and many members of the CPA. Tribune expresses sincere condolences to relatives and friends.