Fred Moore (miner and activist)


Fred Moore is a working class activist and author associated with the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia, in particular the Mount Kembla area. He was born in 1922 in Cobar, New South Wales, Australia. He entered the mining industry at age fourteen and had a significant career in that industry for over fifty years.

Activism

He has been heavily involved in the Trade Union movement and the Miners' Federation, and a key figure in campaigning for worker's rights in Australia, as well as agitating for Aboriginal rights. As a result, he has been initiated as an Aboriginal Tribal elder in the Illawarra, as well as made a blood-brother to the Jerrinja people and is known to local Kooris and other activists as "Dad".
Fred Moore served as chairman of the May Day Committee for over twenty years, and has been bestowed life-member status of the Miners Federation and the Miners' Women's Auxiliary.
The South Coast Trade Union Centre, "Fred Moore House" has been named for him.

Writings

Fred Moore is author with Ray Harrison and Paddy Gorman of two books on the oral history of mining; At the Coalface, and Back at the Coalface. He also appears in the 2008 documentary "Beneath Black Skies", on mining history in the South Coast of NSW, Australia, as one of the interview subjects.

Recognition

The former South Coast Trade Union Centre in Wollongong CBD, and the newer Fred Moore House, home of the CFMEU, have both been named in the honour of his tireless work for unity within the fields of industrial relations, and human rights. In addition to this he has also been honoured with a memorial on the "Together Wall", at the Jumbulla Aboriginal Discovery Centre, Bulli Pass, which tells of how a group of women along with Fred Moore, became involved in assisting the indigenous people in their lobbying and protesting in regards to improving their poor living conditions.