// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Jack Schmella a cellist? Schmella-brate good times
Jack Schmella | |
|---|---|
| National Secretary of the Labor Party | |
| In office 14 July 1954 – 18 July 1960 | |
| Leader | H. V. Evatt Arthur Calwell |
| Preceded by | Pat Kennelly |
| Succeeded by | Joe Chamberlain |
| Secretary of the Queensland Labor Party | |
| In office 1 August 1952 – 18 July 1960 | |
| Leader | Vince Gair Jack Duggan |
| Preceded by | Sydney James Bryan |
| Succeeded by | Jim Keeffe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Mattao Sciarmella[1] 24 February 1908 Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 18 July 1960 (aged 52)[2] |
| Resting place | Toowong Cemetery[3] |
| Party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse | Gladys Parsons[1] |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Mount Carmel Christian Brothers College[3] |
| Occupation | Miner Union official |
John "Jack" Schmella (24 February 1908– 18 July 1960) was an Australian trade unionist and political party official who served as the National Secretary of the Australian Labor Party from 1954 to 1960 and as Secretary of Queensland Labor from 1952 to 1960.[3][4][2] Prior to his elevation to party administration, Schmella worked as a miner, an industrial chemist and later as an industrial officer for the Australian Workers' Union.[5][6][7]
Schmella played a key role in the Australian Labor Party split of 1955, having moved the successful motion to have the Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch) leader and premier Vince Gair expelled from the party, leading to the formation of the breakaway Queensland Labor Party and subsequent collapse of the state government.[3]
See also
[edit]Further reading
[edit]- Campaign Professionals: party officials and the professionalisation of Australian political parties | PhD Thesis by Stephen Mills, University of Sydney Department of Government and International Relations, 2013
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Schmellas settle out of court". The Argus. 9 April 1955. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- 1 2 Mills, Stephen (21 July 2014). "The rise and fall of Labor's first party professional". Inside Story. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Cross, Manfred. "John Matthew (Jack) Schmella (1908–1960)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ Hughes, Colin A. (1980). The Government of Queensland (PDF). University of Queensland Press. ISBN 0 7022 1515 5. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Schmella for Key ALP job". News Corporation. The Courier Mail. 15 July 1954. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Former boxer now leads Labor Party". The Herald. 15 July 1954. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Trades Hall set-back to ALP, groupers". The Sunday Mail. 15 November 1953. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
