It was the lowering of the Shearing rate in 1886 that led shearers from Isis Downs to meet at Blackall to fight the directives of the pastoralists. This resulted in the formation of the Queensland Shearers Union and in December 1887. Bill Kewley, a Blackall resident, was appointed its Secretary. He was an efficient,hard working and well respected man. he also became involved in the largest and most successful workers political organisation in Queensland, called Workingman's Parliamentary Representative Association (WPRA) From its headquarters in Blackall, the WPRA extended its infuence into other districts. In 1891 the organisation changed its name to the Peoples Parliamentary Association (PPA) and adopted the political platform of the Australian Labour Federation.
John Robert Howe (Jackie Howe) 1861-1920
Blade shore 321 sheep in 7hours at Alice Downs Station, north of Blackall, on Monday 10th October 1892 and set a world record that has yet to be beaten for blade shearing!
Jack Howe was active in the fledgling AWU’s bitter striggles to improve shearers wages and conditions and became a senior office holder for years in the Blackall Workers Political Organisatio. During the historic shearers strikes of the 1890’s; a comrade Harry Dunn remembered Jack as the only man brave enough to keep manning the office in Blackall after police had locked up other leading union officials and organisers.
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