Family, friends and comrades of Tony Evans gave him a fitting send-off at his funeral in Adelaide on 25 March. The following tribute to Tony was written by John Wishart, Don Sutherland, Kendra Coulter and Jack Humphrys. SEARCH expresses its condolences to everyone that knew Tony. Vale comrade!

Tony was an important labour movement and socialist activist in South Australia for over 50 years. He made a significant contribution to workers’ living standards, working conditions and employment security in the manufacturing, building and construction industries.

He grew up in the southern suburbs of Adelaide. He left school at 15 in 1964 and after a brief time in a clerical job, gravitated to heavy engineering and construction jobs, working environments he much preferred. Later, Tony wrote that two things radicalised him: the Vietnam War, and being sacked at 17 from a manufacturing plant where he began his long association with the trade union movement.

He was drafted to fight in Vietnam but was against the war and finished up being discharged during his training, his anti-war views coming to the attention of his superior officers.

In 1972 he was elected as a shop steward at the Engineering and Water Supply Depot, St Mary’s. Soon after he became a delegate to the United Trades and Labor Council for the Australian Government Workers Union. He worked as an organiser for the Miscellaneous Workers Union between 1974 and 1977.

Tony came into contact with the CPA in 1974, impressed by the views of Rob Durbridge, Don Sutherland, Jim Moss and others. His other great influence was Joe Palmada, who was described by Tony, as an “organic intellectual” on more than one occasion. Tony described the CPA at that time as “a school for radicals” and remained a member until its dissolution, serving as SA State Secretary and member of the CPA National Committee between 1979 and 1982.

From early 1982 to 1988 Tony worked as a sheet metalworker, a moulder and a builders labourer. At one time he worked removing asbestos. He writes that “I regarded asbestos removal as a political job. We were removing a hazard to other workers in the industry, and to the community at large”.

Self-educated, a working class “organic intellectual” himself, Tony read widely and became increasingly interested in ideas and programs for the survival and modernisation and development of Australia’s manufacturing industries. In 1988 he was hired by the SA Labor Council as the Industry Development Officer. In 2004 he moved to the AMWU as a Research Officer until his retirement in 2018.

During his time at the Labor Council and the AMWU he played an important role in assisting unions with award restructuring, industry development proposals and navigating enterprise bargaining agreements. In 1990 he replaced Laurie Carmichael, a comrade he greatly admired, as a member of the Australian Manufacturing Council. Tony’s research strategy included regular visits, with or without support from union officers, to union workshops where he tested ideas and developed them in conversations with members and their shop stewards. He deeply trusted workers’ knowledge of their labour process and their industry.

Tony enjoyed a drink and a smoke, was a keen darts player, a cat devotee, and lover of the music of Bob Dylan, The Clash, Aretha Franklin and many other bands. He developed a strong sensibility for and decent collection of classical music. In particular, he loved Beethoven and could discuss the different interpretations of his works offered by different conductors and orchestras. He took great pleasure in constantly renovating his modest home, and helped others do the same. All of this was in addition to his ongoing devotion to his beloved Richmond Tigers, who he was sure would take the flag this year!

Tony’s strengths were his consistency, natural enagagement with workers, capacity for hard work, his thirst for greater knowledge and understanding, his research and writing skills, a degree of pragmatism, and being open to other views, as well as being a good person.

He is survived by George, his partner of over 50 years, his sister-in-law, Jo and brother-in-law Steve and their two children Eddy and Gilbert. Our condolences go to his family and close friends.

John Wishart, Don Sutherland, Kendra Coulter and Jack Humphrys