Labour Australia

  • Tip: searches only the name field
  • Tip: Use double quotes to search for a phrase

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

Charles James Geelan (1896–1979)

This article was published:

This entry is from People Australia

Charles James Geelan (1896-1979) ironworker, trade union official and Communist

Birth: 1896 at Braidwood, New South Wales, son of native-born Francis Robert Geelan (1862-1932) and Mary, née Connelly (1862-1941), probably born in County Clare, Ireland.  Marriage: 7 November 1918 at St Barnabas Anglican Church, Sydney, to native-born Mabel Dorothy Swan (1896-1989). They had two daughters. Death: 25 February 1979 in a nursing home at Annandale, Sydney. 

  • Began work at railway workshops at Randwick about 1915. A leader of shop boy’s strike 1915 and actively involved in 1917 strike.
  • Active in Federated Ironworkers’ Association for thirty-four years, filling numerous positions including delegate to State and Federal councils. Sydney branch president for seven years. President of central council of Railway Shop Committees for fourteen years.
  • White Bay shop committee president. President White Bay Sick and Accident Fund, president White Bay Power House Sports and Social Club.
  • Geelan was a Communist Party of Australia activist and an acolyte of Ernie Thornton’s.
  • Played hooker for Annandale and Glebe rugby league teams for sixteen years.
  • Retired, medically unfit, in 1949.

Sources
Magnet
, June 1949; Labor News, September 1949; Robert Murray and Kate White, The ironworkers: a history of the Federated Ironworkers’ Association of Australia (Sydney, c1982) p 116 [where he is named as “Col Geelan”].

Additional Resources and Scholarship

  • photo, Daily News (Sydney), 11 November 1939, p 3

Related Entries in NCB Sites

Citation details

'Geelan, Charles James (1896–1979)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://labouraustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/geelan-charles-james-33854/text42402, accessed 2 November 2024.

© Copyright Labour Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1896
Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia

Death

25 February, 1979 (aged ~ 83)
Annandale, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Occupation
Key Events
Key Organisations
Political Activism
Workplaces