Billy Duggan
Encyclopedia
William Joseph "Billy" Duggan (31 January 1884 – 4 July 1934) was an Australian trade unionist who served as the first president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
.
Duggan was born in Melbourne
to ironoulder William Duggan and Elizabeth Margaret, née Whitmore. He attended local state schools before working as an estate agent and plumber, eventually joining the navy
. In his early years he developed both his penchant for self-education and his boxing
skills. He later left the navy to return to plumbing. On 12 March 1910 he married Frances Annie Barratt at St James Old Cathedral
. In March 1912, as a member of the Commonwealth Military Cadet Corps, he was commissioned lieutenant
, but in 1913 he resigned; despite his early support for military training he would oppose conscription
during the 1916–17 referenda.
Duggan had joined the United Operative Plumbers and Gasfitters' Society of Victoria (which became the Australian Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees' Union in 1912) in 1910. He was state vice-president from August 1911 until his election as first organiser in January 1912. In 1914 he became first secretary of the Building Trades Federation, and in March 1918 he sat on the Shipbuilding Tribunal. He continued to be active in the union movement throughout the 1920s, serving as a Plumbers' Union delegate on the Victorian Trades Hall Council
until his election as THC President (1926–27). He chaired the 1927 Third All-Australian Trade Union Congress, which established the Australian Council of Trade Unions
of which he was inaugural president, serving until 1934. He was also active in the Australian Labor Party
, serving as first metropolitan council president in 1926 and as Victorian president from 1928 to 1929. He served on the federal executive (1929–31, 1932) and ran for preselection for Bendigo
in 1928, unsuccessfully contesting Henty
in 1929. He served on Coburg Council
from 1924 to 1930 and as mayor from 1928 to 1929.
Duggan died from a duodenal ulcer in 1934 at Moreland.
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"...
.
Duggan was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to ironoulder William Duggan and Elizabeth Margaret, née Whitmore. He attended local state schools before working as an estate agent and plumber, eventually joining the navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
. In his early years he developed both his penchant for self-education and his boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
skills. He later left the navy to return to plumbing. On 12 March 1910 he married Frances Annie Barratt at St James Old Cathedral
St James Old Cathedral
thumb|300px|St James Old Cathedral, MelbourneSt James Old Cathedral, an Anglican church, is the oldest church in Melbourne, Australia, and one of only three buildings in the central city which predate the Gold Rush of 1851...
. In March 1912, as a member of the Commonwealth Military Cadet Corps, he was commissioned lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, but in 1913 he resigned; despite his early support for military training he would oppose conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
during the 1916–17 referenda.
Duggan had joined the United Operative Plumbers and Gasfitters' Society of Victoria (which became the Australian Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees' Union in 1912) in 1910. He was state vice-president from August 1911 until his election as first organiser in January 1912. In 1914 he became first secretary of the Building Trades Federation, and in March 1918 he sat on the Shipbuilding Tribunal. He continued to be active in the union movement throughout the 1920s, serving as a Plumbers' Union delegate on the Victorian Trades Hall Council
Victorian Trades Hall Council
The Victorian Trades Hall Council is a representative body of trade union organisations, known as a Labour council, in the State of Victoria, Australia...
until his election as THC President (1926–27). He chaired the 1927 Third All-Australian Trade Union Congress, which established the Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"...
of which he was inaugural president, serving until 1934. He was also active in the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
, serving as first metropolitan council president in 1926 and as Victorian president from 1928 to 1929. He served on the federal executive (1929–31, 1932) and ran for preselection for Bendigo
Division of Bendigo
The Division of Bendigo is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the city of Bendigo...
in 1928, unsuccessfully contesting Henty
Division of Henty
The Division of Henty was an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1913 and abolished in 1990. It was named for the Henty family of Portland, the first European settlers in Victoria. It was located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, including at various times...
in 1929. He served on Coburg Council
City of Coburg
The City of Coburg was a Local Government Area located about north of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1859 until 1994.-History:...
from 1924 to 1930 and as mayor from 1928 to 1929.
Duggan died from a duodenal ulcer in 1934 at Moreland.