Dr. John Kellett

John KellettLecturerEconomics

John KellettUNE - EBL - Dr John Kellett
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Dr John Kellett
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John KellettLecturer, School of Economics
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John Kellett, A Fighting Union: a history of the Queensland Branch of the Transport Workers Union 1907-2000 , Brisbane, Boolarong Press, 2001;
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Bradley Bowden and John Kellett (eds), Transforming Labour: Proceedings of the Eighth National Labour History Conference , Brisbane, 2003;
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John Kellett, 'Formation of the Brisbane TLC', in Bradon Ellem, Ray Markey, John Shields (eds), Labour Councils in Australia: Origins, Purpose, Power, Agency , Sydney, Federation Press, 2004;
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John Kellett, 'One-Woman-One-Vote: Annie Lane, "Lucinda Sharpe" and the Female Franchise in Late-Nineteenth Century Queensland', Hecate , Vol 31, December 2004

Dr. John Kellett to edit Labour History JournalUNE - EBL - Dr. John Kellett to edit Labour History Journal
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Dr. John Kellett to edit Labour History Journal

Thu 10 Aug 2006

Dr John Kellett, a lecturer in the School of Economics, has accepted an invitation to edit the May 2007 edition of the Queensland Journal of Labour History.The journal is a publication of the Brisbane Labour History Association, which is the Brisbane branch of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History.The May 2007 edition will be a special edition of the journal to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the Queensland branch of the Transport Workers Union.In 2001 Dr Kellett published a full-length history of the TWU in Queensland.

John KellettLecturer+(61 2) 6773 3563 john.kellett@une.edu.au

John Kellett Lecturer +(61 2) 6773 3563 john.kellett@une.edu.au

John KellettLecturerEconomics

John KellettUNE - Staff - Dr John Kellett
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You are here: UNE Home / Staff / John Kellett
...
Dr John Kellett
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John KellettLecturer, Faculty of The Professions, School of Business Economics and Public Policy
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John Kellett, A Fighting Union: a history of the Queensland Branch of the Transport Workers Union 1907-2000 , Brisbane, Boolarong Press, 2001;
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Bradley Bowden and John Kellett (eds), Transforming Labour: Proceedings of the Eighth National Labour History Conference , Brisbane, 2003;
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John Kellett, 'Formation of the Brisbane TLC', in Bradon Ellem, Ray Markey, John Shields (eds), Labour Councils in Australia: Origins, Purpose, Power, Agency , Sydney, Federation Press, 2004;
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John Kellett, 'One-Woman-One-Vote: Annie Lane, "Lucinda Sharpe" and the Female Franchise in Late-Nineteenth Century Queensland', Hecate , Vol 31, December 2004

John KellettEconomics, University of New England

John Kellett, A Fighting Union: A History of the Queensland Branch of the Transport Workers Union, 1907-2000, Boolarong Press, Moorooka, Queensland, 2001. pp. + 267. $20.00 paper.

Trade union histories seem few and far between these days and for that reason alone, John Kellett's commissioned history of the Queensland branch of the Transport Workers Union should be welcomed as contributing to another chapter in the history of the Australian labour movement.
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By far the most fascinating and compelling period in this history is between 1982-1992 in which Kellett does a remarkable job in bringing the Hughie Williams and Len Ward/Les McPaul feud to life.Williams triumphs eventually in this struggle between 'both style and substance', but the author's narration provides an entertaining and politically insightful window into the hard-ball game of union branch politics. 4

There are many colourful personalities scattered throughout the book, some of whom would have benefited from a more comprehensive biographical exposure.Women are not neglected, although, like many trade unions in the same tradition, they are conspicuously absent from the leadership group and organising ranks until recent times.Kellett gives due recognition to 'Miss Arnell'—Clare Arnell who was employed as the Branch's receptionist and office-coordinator between 1927 and 1972.
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As Kellett demonstrates, she was more often than not a defacto branch secretary in every sense of those words. 5

Overall, it is difficult not to see this history as celebratory.In the book's introduction, Kellett confesses he did not approach his work dispassionately and makes no claim to objectivity, so we must applaud such honesty and accept the book the way we find it.
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Despite these shortcomings, Kellett has written a perceptive and interesting history of the Queensland branch of the Transport Workers' Union.