Obituary:

Stanley Dingle         1st April 1920 – 6th January 2004

Stan's family did it hard like most working class families 
during the Depression. As a result he became a life- long, 
determined and committed activist and supporter of the workers 
and member of the Communist Party.

Stan's father was sacked from the PMG (now Telstra) at the start 
of the Depression because of a work injury. Stan grew up in the 
then working-class Melbourne suburb of Middle Park where Stan's 
father after three years of unemployment found work as the 
caretaker of the local primary school. As a ten-year-old Stan 
went with his father to hear Party speakers at Red Square.

Stan had an interest in music and sport, playing for his beloved 
South Melbourne football club (now the Sydney Swans) at a time 
when they were winning premierships and supported the West 
Indians against the capitalist Australians in cricket.

Stan was good at art and drafting but had to take up a carpentry 
apprenticeship.

During WW2 he enlisted and became a member of the elite 
Australian Parachute Regiment.

Stan's war experience steeled his commitment and determination to 
return and struggle for a society and government of the people, 
not the bosses and imperialists.

There was no housing for returned servicemen and their families 
and Stan and his wife and daughter were sent to Camp Pell in 
Melbourne, an ex-army camp to live in tin huts that had no 
heating, cooking facilities or protection against the burning 
sun. The poor conditions in this camp resulted finally in the 
break-up of his marriage.

Stan became actively involved and worked with Doctor Gerry O'Day, 
in the Party's major campaign for the building of public housing.

At the same time, as a trade unionist, he was involved in the 
1946, three-month strike in the Housing Commission. This dispute 
won a number of significant conditions in the building industry 
including inclement weather provisions and smokos.

Stan became a shop steward and organiser with the then Building 
Workers' Industrial Union (now part of CFMEU) and worked for the 
Party.

Due to Stan's political activity and work-related injuries he 
found it difficult to get regular work and when his second wife 
died he, at 60, became responsible full-time for a young 
rebellious son.

This was followed a few years later by a stroke that partly 
incapacitated him.

Through all of these difficulties he remained committed, 
enthusiastic, and active and was a reliable participant in Party 
work until a second stroke a few years ago.

Our condolences go to his son Greg, his daughter-in-law Jane, his 
grandson Flynn, his sisters and family.