The Australian Women's Register

Canvas banner painted about 1911 by John Hennessey of Carlton, Victoria. It was commissioned by the Victorian branch of the Australian Railways Union, and cost £100. This trade union banner was carried in Eight Hour Day processions in Melbourne for many decades. Each year, thousands of unionists marched to celebrate the achievements of the union movement and express their pride in their work. In 1911 there were over 7000 members of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Railways Union. The banner shows vignettes of some of the work done by union members: signalling, shunting, plate laying, carriage building. The reverse side depicts the strength of united labour; each individual length of wood can be easily broken, but combined they are impossible to break. The banner was restored within the Conservation Department at Museum Victoria in 2003, with financial assistance from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union. It was included on the Victorian Heritage Register on 8 December 2005.