Community hub
Recent from talks
Contribute something to knowledge base
Content stats: 0 posts, 0 articles, 1 media, 0 notes
Members stats: 0 subscribers, 0 contributors, 0 moderators, 0 supporters
Subscribers
Supporters
Contributors
Moderators
Hub AI
Fred Paterson AI simulator
(@Fred Paterson_simulator)
Hub AI
Fred Paterson AI simulator
(@Fred Paterson_simulator)
Fred Paterson
Frederick Woolnough Paterson (13 June 1897 – 7 October 1977) was an Australian politician, activist, unionist and lawyer. He is the only representative of the Communist Party of Australia to be elected to an Australian parliament.
In 1949 he was described as "[b]alding, sallow faced, slight and wiry, with the quavering voice of an old man, Paterson is a non-drinker, non-smoker, non-gambler, non-swearer".
Paterson was born and raised on a pig farm in Gladstone, Queensland. He was educated at Gladstone State School, came second in the annual bursary examination at 13 years of age, Rockhampton Grammar School, and Brisbane Grammar School and then studied classics at the University of Queensland, before joining the military in 1918. He subsequently saw action on the battlefields of France, returning in 1919. While in France, he was involved in two food-related strikes, which were both successful.[citation needed] On return he completed his studies.
In January 1920, Paterson moved to Merton College, Oxford to study theology, after becoming a Rhodes Scholar. However, by the time he sat for his honours degree in 1922, his belief in Christianity had changed. He had witnessed extreme poverty in Ireland and parts of London, and this concerned him. Not long after returning to Queensland, Paterson joined the Communist Party of Australia.
He also had an interest in sporting, having come second in two-miles amateur championships in Queensland, aged 16, and 440 yards (400 m) championship, aged 20, represented his university in the Brisbane senior competition football, and represented Queensland returned soldiers against an AIF touring team.
Paterson began studying law in 1923. By 1924, he was giving lectures on Marxism. Then, in 1925, he began working for the Workers' Educational Association. This saw him addressing unions, giving lectures on the history of the working-class, and trying to increase the association's membership.
In 1931, Paterson was admitted to the New South Wales Bar. He based himself in Brisbane, but later that year went to Townsville to defend two Italian workers, who had been charged with assaulting the Italian consul.
As the Great Depression set in, Paterson became involved in fighting racist employment policies in the sugar industry. At the time, the unions and employer associations had a policy of refusing employment to Italian workers to combat unemployment in the industry. Paterson led a campaign by both the Communist Party and the Italian community and was successful in ending the practice. In 1933, Paterson left Brisbane completely, and set up in Townsville. He spent his time juggling both a part-time legal career and his burgeoning role as a travelling activist for the Communist Party. By this time, he had gained a reputation as a fine public speaker.[citation needed]
Fred Paterson
Frederick Woolnough Paterson (13 June 1897 – 7 October 1977) was an Australian politician, activist, unionist and lawyer. He is the only representative of the Communist Party of Australia to be elected to an Australian parliament.
In 1949 he was described as "[b]alding, sallow faced, slight and wiry, with the quavering voice of an old man, Paterson is a non-drinker, non-smoker, non-gambler, non-swearer".
Paterson was born and raised on a pig farm in Gladstone, Queensland. He was educated at Gladstone State School, came second in the annual bursary examination at 13 years of age, Rockhampton Grammar School, and Brisbane Grammar School and then studied classics at the University of Queensland, before joining the military in 1918. He subsequently saw action on the battlefields of France, returning in 1919. While in France, he was involved in two food-related strikes, which were both successful.[citation needed] On return he completed his studies.
In January 1920, Paterson moved to Merton College, Oxford to study theology, after becoming a Rhodes Scholar. However, by the time he sat for his honours degree in 1922, his belief in Christianity had changed. He had witnessed extreme poverty in Ireland and parts of London, and this concerned him. Not long after returning to Queensland, Paterson joined the Communist Party of Australia.
He also had an interest in sporting, having come second in two-miles amateur championships in Queensland, aged 16, and 440 yards (400 m) championship, aged 20, represented his university in the Brisbane senior competition football, and represented Queensland returned soldiers against an AIF touring team.
Paterson began studying law in 1923. By 1924, he was giving lectures on Marxism. Then, in 1925, he began working for the Workers' Educational Association. This saw him addressing unions, giving lectures on the history of the working-class, and trying to increase the association's membership.
In 1931, Paterson was admitted to the New South Wales Bar. He based himself in Brisbane, but later that year went to Townsville to defend two Italian workers, who had been charged with assaulting the Italian consul.
As the Great Depression set in, Paterson became involved in fighting racist employment policies in the sugar industry. At the time, the unions and employer associations had a policy of refusing employment to Italian workers to combat unemployment in the industry. Paterson led a campaign by both the Communist Party and the Italian community and was successful in ending the practice. In 1933, Paterson left Brisbane completely, and set up in Townsville. He spent his time juggling both a part-time legal career and his burgeoning role as a travelling activist for the Communist Party. By this time, he had gained a reputation as a fine public speaker.[citation needed]
Recent media
Recent media