Terry Muscat

Terry Muscat JP

Trade Unionist, Community Worker

Terry was born in Mellieha on the 22nd March 1934 and grew up in Tarxien He migrated to Australia in 1956 and found work at the ICI factory in Deer Park where he worked as a machine operator until 1969.

He joined the Federated Iron-workers Association and became an FIA shop steward in 1959, and member of AFIA state executive in 1963. Terry was active amongst the European migrants working around Melbourne's then-thriving manufacturing industry,

He was a Founding member of the ACTU’s Migrant Worker Committee in the ‘60s, and rose to State President of the Australian Workers Union, and was then elected as National Secretary of the AWU in 1997 – the most senior national office of one of Australia largest trade unions.

He has also represented Australia at international trade union conferences including the International Metal Federation 1989 study mission to Asia and the IMF Centennial 1992 study mission to Zurich.

He retired in July 2001 as National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union. His accomplishments within the Maltese community are summarised in the chapter on Welfare.

He has served on a number of committees and positions: • member for the Australian Labor Party (ALP) Public Office Selection Committee since 1986, • delegate to the Victorian Trades Hall Council (1969-93), • trustee of the Metals Traders Federation of Unions (1985-89), • Victoria State President of the Federation of Industrial Manufacturing & Engineering Employees (FIMEE) and of the Australian Workers Union (AIW), • AWU national executive member (1995), • Elected national secretary of the Australian Workers' Union (1997).

He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1974. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1992 and was made Knight of the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem in 1994. He was also given the Medal of Merit from Malta. It has been said of him that "Terry Muscat represented the very best qualities of the post-war migration to Australia. Terry and his generation will be sorely missed. He made Australia a better place." Terry died in 2003, aged 70, and is survived by his first wife Mary and his children Sam and Michelle, and second wife Jane and his step-children Helen and Edwin.

Source: Bill Shorten, National Paper, Article 17 April, 2003.