John Curtin's first journalistic endeavour was published in the inaugural issue of the Socialist in 1906 when he was just 21 years old.
More than ten years later, in 1917, seeking a fresh start and an income which would enable him to marry, his writing brought him to Western Australia as editor of the weekly Westralian Worker, the local Labor Party newspaper.
John and Elsie Curtin with
their children, 1922.
It was the midst of World War One and a critical time in Labor's history.
Prime Minister Billy Hughes had just resigned from the Labor Party Caucus
over the issue of introducing conscription and merged with the Liberals
to form the Nationalist Party. The bitter split over conscription weakened
the ALP-in the federal election Labor lost every Western Australian seat.
Curtin was a pacifist, but not passive. With the energy of an angry young
man he tackled conscription head on-at the outbreak of war in 1914 he had
set about organising the national anti-conscription movement and so strong
were his beliefs that he spent three wretched days in jail in protest against
enlisting.
The Curtin family, c. 1940.
Upon moving to Perth, he wrote voluminously and vehemently about the
issue, fighting hard to rebuild ALP unity in Western Australia and denouncing
political renegades who had crossed the floor. In the second conscription
referendum Curtin led the "No" campaign for the west. While the
battle was lost locally, the "No" vote carried the day nationally
and Australia remained the only combatant nation to rely on a voluntary
army.
After the war life settled into a more harmonious routine. Two months after
moving to Western Australia, Curtin married Elsie, daughter of Labor supporter
Abraham Needham. The couple had met when Curtin travelled to Tasmania on
union business and romance blossomed via correspondence and occasional meetings.
Curtin poses with family members
for an evening's celebration.
Elsie's evenly balanced temperament was the perfect foil for her husband's sensitive and sometimes highly strung nature. Intelligent, well-read and with a keen sense of humour, reared on Labor principles, outspoken and down-to-earth, she not only provided stability and serenity to his life, but proved to be a more than satisfactory sounding board for his ideas.
The Curtins had two children-a boy and a girl-and lived in Cottesloe close to the beach that Curtin loved. He gave the children swimming lessons and went for long walks on the beach accompanied by the family dog, Kip.
Despite being a hopeless handyman who couldn't knock in a straight nail, he spent endless hours pottering in the garden.
John Curtin and his son, 1932.
The Curtins' house was more full of books than most and Curtin continued to speak at political meetings. He relaxed by playing cricket for a Cottesloe team and was a member of the WA Football League's Umpire Advisory Board. After a sporting weekend he would often take Elsie to see a Monday-night movie.
He was a loving father who enjoyed
spending time with both his children.
He was president of the State branch of the Australian Journalists Association for several years. He strongly supported education for journalists and planned a series of lectures by eminent speakers such as Professor Walter Murdoch and E.O.G. Shann through the University of Western Australia.
Unfailingly kind and courteous,
Curtin never hesitated to pose for
photos when asked.
Curtin's editorials continued to reflect his ideas and evolving philosophies and he wrote seriously about a broad spectrum of issues-international affairs; federal and state politics; economics; social conditions-which was to stand him in good stead for his future political career.
John Curtin with friend and federal
Treasurer, Ben Chifley.
