Deposit N300 - Merv MacFarlane papers

Identity area

Reference code

AU NBAC N300

Title

Merv MacFarlane papers

Date(s)

  • 1978 - 2004 (Creation)

Level of description

Deposit

Extent and medium

0.15 m

Context area

Name of creator

(1924 - 2000)

Biographical history

Merv MacFarlane was born on 22 June 1924 at West Gosford, New South Wales. On 11 December 1941, at the age 17 he joined the army and served in the Middle East, New Guinea and Borneo until 18 June 1946. From 9 February 1948 he commenced work on the Sydney waterfront and joined the Sydney Branch of the Waterside Workers' Federation (WWF). MacFarlane was the Federation's job delegate in 1956, then elected vice-president of the Branch in 1960, and again in 1976-1984, he was vigilance officer 1970-1973, and in 1977-1984 was appointed to the position of the port transfer officer. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party until he left to join the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) in 1963 and was editor of the CPA newsletter Wharfie. He became an editor for the Revesby Workers Club News in 1964. MacFarlane left the CPA in 1971 and became a founding member of the Socialist Party of Australia (SPA) in 1972. He was vice-chariman, Maritime Branch of the SPA and editor of the newsletter, Maritime Bulletin. In 1982 he was a founding member of the Maritime Unionists Socialist Activities Association (MUSAA) and the editor of MUSAA News. He became the first secretary of the Sydney Branch, MUSAA and later its first national secretary. Merv MacFarlane died in late February 2000.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers relating to Macfarlane’s activities in the Maritime Branches of the Communist Party of Australia and Socialist Party of Australia. Includes a biography, correspondence and printed material.

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Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Researchers must sign an access agreement

Conditions governing reproduction

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Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

NBAC M70; NBAC Z248 - Waterside Workers' Federation, Sydney Branch records

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Dates of creation revision deletion

Entered from deposit description on 26 September 2011; revised on 8 April 2016

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