First Federal conference of the Operative Bakers of the Commonwealth, Melbourne Trades Hall, corner of Lygon and Victoria Streets, Melbourne

Abstract

A group portrait of assembled Operative Bakers Association representatives from different parts of Australia. Although the Association was federated in 1914, the first federal conference was held earlier, in October 1912. In March 1914 Mr F. Hahn (standing, fifth from the left) represented the Union in the Federal Arbitration Court in Melbourne in an application to introduce day baking. Hahn's argument that night baking meant that bakers did not have enough rest, nor time to be good husbands and fathers was defeated in court. In the end, day baking was agreed to by the Master Bakers under threat of strike action. The bakers are formally dressed for the occasion, with all wearing ties and many with medallions on chains attached to their waistcoats. Four of them have flannel flowers in their buttonholes, while several others have fastened another type of light coloured flower to their jackets. The flannel flowers might have been worn because they were associated with Federation and were depicted on invitations to official Federation events.Two men are smoking; Mr Douglass has a cigarette and Mr Dorter has a cigar. Heavy stonework and pilasters on the building behind the group indicate that the venue was probably at the Melbourne Trades Hall, the oldest union building in the world. The representatives are (from left to right), standing: S.J. Mitchell (Broken Hill), G. Axelsen (Queensland), W. Ryan (W.Aus), W.J. White (S.Aus), F. Hahn (S.Aus), A. Dobson (Vic), P.G. Halliday (N. S. W.), J. McCarthy (Queensland), D. McLean (Newcastle); sitting: J. Pye (N. S. W.), C. Dorter (Geelong), F. Rush (Tas), C. Large (Vic), F. Benson (Bendigo), T.Seymour (Vic); sitting on the grass: G. Douglass (Ballarat), W. Hayson (Vic), C. Sumner (Ballarat).