Norm Haub, working-class fighter

April 30, 1997
Issue 

Norm Haub, working-class fighter

By Ray Ferguson

BRISBANE — Many comrades and friends gathered at a service here on April 11 to say farewell to Norman Haub, who died two days earlier after a long illness.

Norm was a battler all his life, not only for his family but for the interests of the working class. Norm was a great optimist in the face of adversity, and had a warm generosity to match.

From his early days as a shearer, Norm was an active member of the Australian Workers Union, and moved from shed to shed involving himself in the struggles of the workers against the graziers.

As a result of his shearing experiences, Norm realised the need for workers to construct a working-class party, which led him to join the Communist Party of Australia.

With the decline of the CPA in the 1970s, Norm joined the Socialist Party of Australia (as it was then known), and was elected to the Queensland state committee.

Norm always received strong support from his family, especially his loving wife and comrade Heather. After marrying in Sydney, Norm and Heather moved 28 times, mainly from shearing shed to shed, while raising a family of three. Norm and Heather were widely respected among the community, whether attending a rally or providing breakfasts to Kingston school children.

After being forced to retire from the industry because of ill health, Norm and Heather settled in the Logan City area and devoted their time to the SPA and the broader progressive movement. In 1984, Norm achieved one of his greatest wishes when he visited the Soviet Union as part of an SPA delegation.

Norm fully understood the need to develop left unity, and worked closely with other left forces, in particular the comrades of the Democratic Socialist Party.

Speakers at Norm's farewell service included DSP Brisbane secretary Jim McIlroy, Norm's long-time friend and comrade Ian McLeod and Norm's son Jake.

Norm will be sorely missed not only by Heather, his daughters Maree and Lea-Rae and son Jake, and the rest of the family, but by all those who knew and appreciated his contribution to the cause of working people.

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