Patrick Joseph Taaffe came to Australia on the Smyrna Ship that
birthed in Sydney on the 29 Sept.1883.
Father: Patrick Taaffe
Mother: Elizabeth Mary Carpenter/Taaffe
He also had 2 Brothers: Peter and James and a Sister:
Bridget.
Patrick was in Coolgardie at the same time as Paddy Hannan, Dan
Shea and Tom Flanigan. He married Mary Elizabeth McMahan in St
Marys Church Kalgoorlie in 1899 and lived in Boulder on the Ivanhoe
Leases. He became a tributer in the gold mining industry. A
tributer was a independent miner who leased part of a mine where
they make good money from veins that are missed by big companies.
He was the president of the Australian Workers Union (AWU) for many
years and was their leader during a 6 week strike that was a
absolute success.
Patrick was Workers Delegate to the Chamber of Mines until his
death in 1938, AWU representative on the Mineworkers Relief fund,
and an executive member of the Australian Labour Party.
As Senior Councillor and Deputy Mayor, he was instrumental in
steering the Council to be the first employers in Western Australia
to grant the forty hour week.
Patrick was awarded a Coronation Medal by King George on the 12
May 1937 and also awarded a Medal in the 1937 Birthdays honours,
for his services.
He was survived by his wife, 8 of their 9 Children and several
grand children.
