| Ted Bull was born into a poor working class family in Fitzroy, Melbourne on 29 January 1914. His father died when Ted was twelve years old and Ted left school in 1928 to care for his family. In 1930, with the Depression reducing most working class families to poverty and many to unemployment, Ted carried his swag across Australia, searching for work. Joining the Communist Party in 1933, Bull served with the Australian Army during the Second World War. Upon his return Bull was employed on the waterfront and subsequently joined the Waterside Workers' Federation [WWF]. Ted Bull was elected Secretary of the Melbourne branch of the Waterside Workers' Federation in 1967. He held this position for twelve years. He led the waterside workers in support of many non-industrial causes, including Aboriginal land rights, until his compulsory retirement in 1979. Bull died in Melbourne on 11 December 1997. |
