IRS NEWCASTLE - WHO ARE WE? |
About Newcastle Branch.The Newcastle Branch’s values are the three C’s – Communication, Cooperation and Coordination. The Industrial Relations Society was founded in 1958 with the intention of organising, fostering discussion and promoting research and education within the area of IR. The Newcastle Branch was formally inaugurated on 17 February 1978, some twenty years following the foundation of the state branch. The Newcastle branch was established in response to regional pressures on the NSW branch following a group of Newcastle and Hunter members persuading them to establish a local branch to encourage greater cooperation and dialogue amongst the various groups in the region. Central to the early effort was Maurie Finnegan, Newcastle Branch Secretary of the Federated Ironworkers’ Association. Following Maurie’s passing in 1975, Bill Hopkins continued to persuade the members of the committee of NSW Branch. Bill Hopkins was the first Chairperson of the Newcastle Branch, and the committee included members:
The first committee meeting was held on 17 February 1978 in the conference room of the Ironworkers Building at Mayfield (now home to the Australian Workers Union). The first Annual General Meeting was held in September 1978. The branch was instrumental in the establishment of the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW in Newcastle in 1987. The People Behind the Newcastle Branch: |
Chairpersons (formally Chairmen) 1978 – 1980 Bill Hopkins (Federated Ironworkers Association) 1981 – 1982 John Hayes (BHP Newcastle Steelworks) 1983 – 1992 John Varnum (Transport Workers Union) 1993 – 1995 Duncan Macdonald (University of Newcastle) 1996 – 1998 Maurie Rudd (AWU-FIMEE) (+) 1999 – 2000 Michael Tyler (Industrial Relations Consultant) 2000 – 2002 John Stanton (Australian Industry Group) (+) 2003 – 2005 Mark Bray (University of Newcastle) 2006 – 2008 Catherine Wilkinson (Sparke Helmore Lawyers) 2009 – 2010 Kevin Maher (AWU) 2011 – 2012 Kevin O’Malley (Hunter New England Health) 2012 – 2013 Emma Morson (Ai Group) 2014 – 2015 Tony Callinan (AWU) 2016 – 2017 Graham Holland (Newcastle City Council) 2017 – 2018 David Bliss (SDA) 2018 – 2023 Lee Smith (The Wests Group) 2023 – current Leanne Cruden (Ai Group) | Secretaries 1978 – 1990 Brian Cogan (Newcastle Herald) (+) 1991 – 1992 Tony Brown (Newcastle Ports Authority) 1993 – 1994 Allan Gordon (Orion Energy) 1995 – 1996 Peter Phillips (NSW Department of Industrial Relations) 1997 – 1998 Phil Amos (Australian Business Limited) 1999 – 2000 Danielle Platt (Australian Business Limited) 2001 – 2005 Glenda Winsen (University of Newcastle) (+) 2006 – 2012 Mark Northam (IEU) 2013 – 2015 Catherine Wilkinson (Sparke Helmore Lawyers) 2016 – 2019 Bianca Smith 2019 – 2020 Michelle Gulliver-Smith (+) 2020 – current Toree Diver |
Treasurers/Assistant Secretaries 1978 – 1979 Duncan Macdonald (University of Newcastle) 1980 – 1981 Alam Brown (Moroney, Rutter and Mantach Solicitors) 1982 – 1992 William Mierendorff (Chamber of Manufactures) (+) 1993 – 1994 Justin Davis 1995 – 1998 Nick Convery (Energy Australia) 1999 – 2002 John Anthony (Braye Cragg Solicitors) 2003 – 2017 Greg Kerr 2018 – 2020 Rachael Findlay 2020 – current Rachel Jones (The Wests Group) | Life Members Mr Bill Hopkins OAM Mr Bryan Cogan (+) Mr William Mierendorff (+) Prof. Duncan MacDonald Dr Rod Harrison Ms Barbara Nebart Mr Ralph Warren Mr Peter McPherson (+) deceased |
Headed by incoming Chairperson, Leanne Cruden of Ai Group; and continuing Secretary, Toree Diver and Treasurer, Rachel Jones of The Wests Group. Historically seen as a “boys club”, the Newcastle Branch committee now has six females on the committee and events are attended by many female IR practitioners. |
History was made in 2023 when the Newcastle Branch elected it’s first all female Executive Team. 
