Laurie Short
Encyclopedia
Laurence Elwyn "Laurie" Short, AO
, OBE (15 December 1915 – 24 March 2009) was an Australia
n trade union
leader and leading figure in the Australian Labor Party
(ALP). Short was the national secretary of the Federated Ironworkers Association, now part of the Australian Workers Union, from 1951 to 1982.
Short was seen as playing a key role in preventing the New South Wales
branch of the ALP from splitting along sectarian lines in the 1950s.
He at first supported the idea of communism in Australia, but then rejected communism and then was an important anti-communist union leader. The Age
Short, and Thornton contested the 1949 FIA elections, Thornton won but later this election was ruled rigged and Short declared the winner.
He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) in 1971 and this was followed in 1980 by his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia
(AO).
He married artist Nancy Borlase
in 1941 and was father to journalist Susanna Short.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, OBE (15 December 1915 – 24 March 2009) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader and leading figure 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...
(ALP). Short was the national secretary of the Federated Ironworkers Association, now part of the Australian Workers Union, from 1951 to 1982.
Short was seen as playing a key role in preventing the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
branch of the ALP from splitting along sectarian lines in the 1950s.
He at first supported the idea of communism in Australia, but then rejected communism and then was an important anti-communist union leader. The Age
Short, and Thornton contested the 1949 FIA elections, Thornton won but later this election was ruled rigged and Short declared the winner.
He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) in 1971 and this was followed in 1980 by his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AO).
He married artist Nancy Borlase
Nancy Borlase
Nancy Wilmot Borlase AM was a New Zealand-born Australian artist, well-known for her landscape-based abstract paintings and portraits, and as a critic and commentator...
in 1941 and was father to journalist Susanna Short.