Family background
Charles Herbert Ferry was born in the East Maitland area of NSW in 1888, son of John Ferry and his wife Sarah, née Eyle. In 1932 Charles H Ferry married Ruby R Clark at Chatswood, Sydney. He died on 26 April 1967.
Charles Herbert Ferry was born 31 December 1889 at East Maitland, NSW, the son of John William Ferry and Sarah Eyle. He did not marry. Charles Herbert Ferry died 26 April 1967 at Redfern, NSW, aged 78 years and was buried at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park. He lived at 135 Elizabeth Street, Redfern.
Occupation & interests
Charles Herbert Ferry started work at the PMG when he arrived in Sydney from East Maitland. He first rode a push bike delivering the mail and worked his way up the ladder to sorting mail in the basement of the old Post Office in Sydney.
Community activity
Charles Ferry was known for his service to the Redfern area and its welfare. In 1975 Young Lane in Redfern was renamed Ferry Lane in his honour. At a protest meeting in 1947, ‘Redfern’s Tory dominated’ council, the Tribune reported ‘…sacked employees, cut wages by as much as 27/- a week and re-imposed the 44 hour week. Secretary of Redfern ALP, Charles Ferry stressed “the need for unity among Redfern people to fight for a progressive working class policy and to continue the struggle for a better Redfern and Australia for all working people”‘. In 1975, Young Lane in Redfern was renamed Ferry Lane in his honour.
Local government service
Charles Herbert Ferry was elected an alderman for East Ward of Redfern Council in a by-election in 1948, he was then an alderman for the City of Sydney Council 1948-53. Ferry was elected an alderman for Redfern Ward from 4 December 1948 to 4 December 1953 and for City Ward, 5 December 1953 to 30 November 1956. He was a member of the Works Committee, 1949-56 and its Vice-Chairman from 1954 to 1956. He served on the Health and Recreations Committee, 1949 and 1954-56, the Finance Committee, 1950-53 and the City Planning and Improvements Committee, 1950-53. Ferry was also appointed a member of the Board of Health of NSW, 1955-56.
References
‘Municipal and Shire Notices’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 August 1948, p.7. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18082397
‘Labor of love: or pay?’ The Sun, 20 October 1953, p. 11, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230747397