George Williams, wharfie photographer
Maker
Clem Millward
(Australian, born 1929)
Date1958
Object number00018793
NameDrawing
MediumPencil, paper
DimensionsOverall: 250 x 180 mm, 0.006 kg
Sheet: 250 x 180 mm
Sheet: 250 x 180 mm
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionPortrait of 'George Williams' by Clem Millward.HistoryProduced in 1956 during 'sketch night' held at the Waterside Workers Federation (WWF) Sydney branch. This was a peak time for WWF membership, with 8,000 members in the Sydney branch alone. The branch became a local hub of activities and socialising for wharf workers and their families, many of whom lived in nearby suburbs.
This work by Clem Millward reflects his experience working on the waterfront. Millward had studied painting in Australia and overseas, and worked casual shifts as a wharfie, enabling him time to pursue his art. Millward sketched wharfies in the union canteen during meal breaks and slack periods at work, producing paintings from those sketches afterwards. These men, often anonymous, represent the character and culture of the wharf workers environment at the time.
Millward was also active in the Waterside Workers Federation Art Group, and together with Nan Hortin and Vi Collins, presented art classes for waterside workers' children on Saturday mornings from 1956.SignificanceDrawn on the last 'sketch night' held by the Wharfies art group in 1956. In Clem's words, "George was a lovely man" who used to visit old retired wharfies living in care homes and cut their hair.