17. John “Julian” Alexander Salmon Stuart (1866-1929), trade unionist and writer
John Stuart was born in New South Wales. In his lifetime he was a trade unionist, journalist, poet and politician. As a member of the Queensland Labourers’ Union, he faced conspiracy charges in 1891 with a number of other union leaders. He was amongst the 12 to be given three years’ imprisonment.
Stuart was released in 1894, married singer Rhoda Collings and together they travelled to the Eastern Goldfields in Western Australia. John Stuart was a member of the Australian Workers’ Association, and from 1903-1906 manager and editor of the Westralian Worker (Kalgoorlie) before his election to the Legislative Assembly for Leonora from 1906-08.
His prose and poetry were published in journals and newspapers such as The Bulletin, The Coolgardie Miner, The Brisbane Worker and The Western Mail. He often used the pseudonyms of “Curlew” and “Saladin”.