George Robert Crawford was born in Prahran, Melbourne on 13 January 1926. His primary school education was at Hawkesburn State School and secondary education at Prahran Technical College. At 15, he commenced work as an apprentice plumber studying at Richmond Technical School and The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He joined the Plumbers' Union on 23 May 1944. In 1955 he was elected Organiser of the Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees Union of Australia. He was Branch Secretary of the Union from 1962 to 1985, and General Secretary between 1965 to 1989. Crawford joined the Australian Labor Party in 1944. He was Member Victorian State Executive (and its successor, the Administrative Committee) 1960-75, and 1979; Vice-President Victoria, ALP 1965-69; State President, Victoria, ALP 1969-71, 1971-73, 1983-85; Member for Jika Jika, Victorian Legislative Council 1985-1992; Victoria Branch ALP delegate to National Conference from 1965-1989. He retired in October 1992.