Family background
Robert William Chaplin was born on 24 October 1908 in Redfern, NSW, son of Robert Charles Chaplin and Mary Louise Maud Jackson. He married Thelma Mary McDonald (1914-1998) on 4 September 1937 at the Church of England, Quakers Hill. There were 2 sons and 5 daughters. In 1937 Robert William Chaplin lived at 57 Dalmeny Avenue, Rosebery. Chaplin died on 14 July 1976 at Seven Hills, NSW, aged 67 years; he was cremated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium.
Occupation & interests
A Labour alderman who worked as a shop assistant, Chaplin had strong links with the union movement. He was a disciple of J T Lang but in reality there was little difference in ideology between Official Labour and Lang Labour.
Local government service
Robert Chaplin was an alderman on Waterloo Council in 1934-37.
References
‘Municipal and Shire Elections’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 November 1934, p.18, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17127523