Ben Woods, Assistant Archivist, Australian Mutuals History
This was the 3rd year that the current team at Australian Mutuals History (formerly Australian Credit Union Archives) has exhibited at COBA’s annual convention. Apart from anything else, in my opinion, this year’s exhibition centre had the best vibe out of the three years and also the best food! The paella served during the Welcome Reception was beyond belief. The Welcome Reception overall was good value, with the lights and the performance artists on stilts. We gave the stilt walkers an Australian Mutuals History bookmark each for their trouble.
Business wise we had particularly good discussions with Directors and staff from The Capricornian, Defence Bank, Heritage Bank, BankVic, Bank of US, LCU, Police Credit Union, Police Bank, Qudos Bank, Summerland Credit Union, WECU, Endeavour Mutualbank, Transport Mutual, COBA and others.
Here are some of the photos we took during the event. See you next year!
Our stallDelegates enjoying the Welcome ReceptionThe amazing stilt walkersCongratulating the winner of our lucky dip, Paul Ranson from Bank of USOur mini footy signed by Sydney Swans legend Jude Bolton who attended as representative of COBA 2019 and Sydney Swans sponsor QBE InsuranceCOBA 2019 sponsors’ board located outside the Exhibition Centre
Ben Woods, Assistant Archivist, Australian Mutuals History
Transrail Credit Union started as Motor Transport Employees Savings and Loans Co-operative Limited way back in 1953. After absorbing a number of other credit unions, what was then Transport Credit Union Limited merged with Railways Staff Credit Union to form Transrail Credit Union in 1991. What was Transrail Credit Union is now Endeavour Mutual Bank.
In the year 2000, Transrail Credit Union produced a promotional video called “Talking Transrail”. It was distributed on VHS video tape and we have just had our copy digitised for preservation and access. The video features Transrail Credit Union staff and members talking about their experiences. We have reproduced it for you here.
Ben Woods, Assistant Archivist, Australian Mutuals History
Clarrie Murphy speaking at the NSW Credit Union League AGM , Hurstville Civic Centre, NSW, 1963 [Location: PH/0017]For our latest instalment in our series of profiles on Australian credit union luminaries, we bring you a short biography of Clarrie Murphy, focussing of course on his significant contributions to the credit union industry. Some of Mr Murphy’s achievements as an early pioneer and ongoing champion of the credit union movement include – foundation Director of Australia’s first credit union, Universal Credit Union in 1947, formed St. Jerome’s Co-operative Credit Union (in Punchbowl, NSW) in 1949 and was its first Secretary and Director, foundation Director of the NSW Credit Union League, worked in various positions in later years with Earlwood Credit Union and Railways Staff Credit Union where he also contributed to Rescue – The Member’s Journal.
Clarrie (Clarence John Murphy) was born in Casino, NSW in 1919. He moved with his family to Punchbowl, a suburb of Sydney, in 1925 where he attended Belmore Technical College. After finishing school, Clarrie worked in factories before joining the RAAF at the outbreak of WWII where he served as an aircraft mechanic. After the war, Clarrie continued working on aircraft for TAA, QANTAS and Fairey Aviation.
Clarrie knew Australian credit union pioneer, Kevin Yates and knowing Clarrie’s deep concern for social justice issues, Kevin thought he would be a good addition to his team that was putting together what became Australia’s first credit union, Universal Credit Union. Clarrie didn’t look back from that point and was a massive asset to the movement.
One of the most interesting times of Clarrie’s credit union career was the four months he spent in North America in 1958, learning about running credit unions and visiting many across the region. Clarrie was joined on the trip by fellow aircraft worker Keith Young and B.C. Credit Unionist Magazine ran a feature on the Australians’ adventure in their May, 1958 issue.
Clarrie addressing new apprentices during Apprentice Induction Week, Chullora, NSW, 1986 [Location: PH/3601]We here at Australian Mutuals History are especially indebted to Clarrie Murphy because he was a foundation member and Deputy Director from our inception in 1985 (when we were named Australian Credit Union Historical Co-operative). Clarrie worked with the Co-operative until 1997. He was presented with the Co-operative’s Kevin Yates Award in 1991 and had this to say about his work with Australian Credit Union Historical Co-operative –
“I look back with pride on being part of a team of dedicated volunteers, who have established an important organisation, which has saved and stored so much credit union history and has encouraged a degree of enthusiasm among credit union people to respond to our ideals for support”.
This was not Clarrie’s only gong, he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1998 for his 40 years of dedication and commitment to the credit union movement. Clarence John Murphy was married to Eileen Murphy and was father to Helen, John, Barry, Colleen and Tricia. He passed away on June 29, 2002.
Clarrie in front of the Australian Credit Union Historical Co-operative stall at the 1997 CUSCAL Convention, Conrad Hotel, Gold Coast, October, 1997 [Location: PH/0975]
Ben Woods, Assistant Archivist, Australian Mutuals History
Arthur Johnson (left) with Ben Woods (right) during Arthur’s visit to Australian Mutuals History
We had a visit recently from Arthur Johnson, the founding treasurer of the Motor Transport Employees’ Savings and Loans Co-operative Limited (1953). Mr Johnson was an early credit union pioneer and recorded an oral history interview with Richard Raxworthy on behalf of the archives in 1990.
The Motor Transport Employees’ Savings and Loans Co-operative Limited became Motor Transport Employees Credit Union before it merged with Railways Staff Credit Union in 1991 to form Transrail Credit Union. Transrail Credit Union is one of the entities that has gone into the formation of what is now Endeavour Mutualbank, whose head office is in the same building as ours in Sydney’s Surry Hills.
(Pictured left: Poster showing the life of Transrail Credit Union displayed at their 40th Anniversary party held at the current Australian Mutuals History premises in 1993 [Location: PH/O867]. Pictured right: Arthur Johnson below Endeavour Mutualbank sign at the same building. Endeavour today encompasses what was Transrail Credit Union)
Arthur Johnson was born in Haberfield, Sydney in 1924, before his family moved to Coogee in 1930 where he stayed until he joined the Navy in 1941. He worked in accounts which is how he became the treasurer of Motor Transport Employees’ Savings and Loans Co-operative Limited. He stayed in the role for six years until he was forced to give it up as he took on a new position outside of the transport industry with GIO. He then took a calculated risk by accepting a job for less money with a fledgling corporation (IBM) who manufactured new-fangled devices. He worked in the ‘Mechanised Accounts’ department where he operated mechanised calculating devices manufactured by the Burroughs Corporation, who designed and built the famous adding machines.
He told us that people were suspicious of credit unions in the early years but they soon came around. A funny story he told us illustrates what a boon to Australian society co-ops and credit unions were in the 1950s. Not long after the co-op began a man came to them asking if they provided loans for holidays. Certainly we do, replied Mr Johnson, who proceeded to process the man’s request and presented him with a cheque. The man took the cheque and asked, dumfounded, ‘’what is this?’’ It’s a cheque, replied Mr Johnson. “What do I do with it?” asked the man. Mr Johnson couldn’t believe it. It turned out that this mature man with a job and a family didn’t have a bank account of any sort! When Mr Johnson asked him what he did with his pay, which he received in cash, he replied that he put it under his bed. Apparently, this was the first of many similar instances in the early days of Motor Transport Employees’ Savings and Loans Co-operative Limited.
After visiting us Mr Johnson went back to his home on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Soon he will be traveling to the United States. 94 years young and still going strong!
Pictured from left: Arthur Johnson, John Lee and Ted Whitehall at the Transrail Credit Union 40th Anniversary Party in 1993 [Location: PH/0865]
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