Labour Australia

Tribune reports with regret the death of Normal Freehill, aged 92. Norman worked as a journalist in Sydney, served a stint as president of the Journalists Club, joined the Melbourne Herald as finance editor, was financial adviser to J B Weir, and then joined AAP. It is interesting how the capitalists need the analytical capacity of marxists.

Norman returned to Sydney in 1943, working on the Telegraph which he left to edit Tribune in 1949 (the old days of 695 George Street), working also as a marxist lecturer.

He left Australia in 1949 to live in London with Dymphna Cusack. He was a delegate to the second World Peace Congress in Warsaw in 1950. This was the start of extensive travelling and living in the countries of socialism, from Albania to China, for more than 20 years.

Norman was a warm person, a marxist who influenced many to the left, one of whom was me. But he will be remembered mainly for the companionship and help he gave to his wife Dymphna whose health was fragile. Much of her considerable output was possible because of his domestic and professional skill and devotion.

Norman did not agree with the CPA criticism of the Soviet Union in 1968, but continued his left activities.

Well done, comrade.