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William John & Elsie
Barnard
WILLIAM JOHN BARNARD was
born Abt. 1880, and died 22 Jul 1937 in Nelson aged 57 yrs; bur:
23/Jul/1937 Wakapuaka Cem. Nelson, Block 11, Plot 40
He mar: ELSIE LOUISE MAY.
She was born 1895, and died aged 68Y on 12 Mar 1963 in
Wellington; Crem: 13 Mar 1963 at Karori Crematorium,
Wgtn
1931 Wairarapa electoral roll; living at Donald St, Featherston; Mar with son Frank 1960 Buller electorate; Living at 39 Trewavas St, Motueka; widow Son of WILLIAM BARNARD and ELSIE is: FRANCIS (FRANK) EDMUND BARNARD was born 07 Mar 1925, and died 19 Jul 2001. He married 1940 to FIONA FRASER DENNIS. She was born 16 Jul 1918, and died 11 Mar 2008 in Fergusson Home, Upper Hutt.
"Obituary: Frank Barnard By ARNOLD PICKMERE Francis Edmund Barnard, who died this week of a heart attack in Green Lane Hospital a month after having a heart bypass, first came to public notice during the protracted 1951 waterfront strike. That dispute pointed him to his
career as a trade unionist, including 26 years as president of the
Auckland Freezing Workers Union.
Barnard grew up in Freemans Bay, the
Auckland suburb often then characterised as being a trade union nursery.
Other prominent unionists from the area have included Bill Andersen and
former Federation of Labour president Jim Knox.
Frank's mother ran two boarding
houses in Freemans Bay.
"I think the union thing rubbed off
on me through the boarders we had. Most of them were seamen and they had
it hard. I used to hear them talking," Frank told the Herald's industrial
reporter, Ross Barrett, in 1989.
"I was looked after by a lot of trade
union families. They kept me on track and out of jail."
Barnard left school at 13, working in
a paint factory. He was a professional cyclist for a time, then worked in
butcher shops around Auckland.
In 1947 he went on to the wharves. "I
liked being outdoors and I liked working with the guys, they were a mighty
bunch." During the bitter six-month dispute he converted his garage into a
butcher shop, cutting and boning meat for needy families.
Barnard began at the Shortland
freezing works at Otahuhu in 1952, working through the union ranks until
he became Auckland president in 1963, forging a formidable partnership
with union secretary Trevor Kelly as hard, strong fighters for their
members.
Alliance MP Willie Jackson, who was
impressed with his ability to advocate for and communicate with Maori
workers, says: "I remember him fondly as an old stalwart who knew how to
take the heat, win a fight and have a bit of fun on the way. In 26 years I
was the only person to challenge him for his position."
Not all the fights were with
employers. At times he turned his forthright manner on to allies he
thought were letting the side down.
In 1985 the Labour Party member
announced that he would work for the demise of the Labour Government over
its decision to allow live sheep exports to the Middle East.
Expressing his disgust to Agriculture
Minister Colin Moyle, he added: "Congratulations on your new-found
friends. Your Government will certainly need them as you are losing old
friends fast."
In 1986 he turned on Blue Kennedy,
secretary of the New Zealand Meat Workers Union for his role in award
negotiations. "We in Auckland are getting outvoted by a pack of
weaklings," Barnard complained.
Outside his official work, some
called him the Mayor of Orewa Domain, because he holidayed there with his
wife of 52 years, Jackie, and their two children, Linda and Kevin, for
about 40 years.
At his funeral service they called
him an honest and loyal person, straight up and down, with a gruff
exterior but underneath a real softie.As the coffin left at the end of the
service Frank Sinatra's voice filled the church with Barnard's favourite
song, My Way.
Notes for FIONA FRASER DENNIS: 1984 Heretaunga electorate; living at 1 Clyma Road; superannuent 8 grandchildren and 16 gt-grandchildren (Messages to 10 Lane St, Upper Hutt)
Children of FRANCIS BARNARD and FIONA DENNIS are:
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