Harry Reade (1927-1998)
Australian, 1927 - 1998
As an adult Reade also became a wharfie and was an engaged member of the Waterside Workers Federation (WWF). He had demonstrated a drawing ability from a young age and contributed to the artistic needs of the union. He made May Day banners, contributed to the wharfie’ mural (at the Australian National Maritime Museum) and as an animator with the WWF Film Unit. These pursuits, drawing and worker’s interests, became a lifelong passion for Reade but could see him at odds with the organizations he worked for.
In Australia he was often seen as being too political. Reade had joined Young Communist League and in 1961 he decided to travel to Cuba to join and contribute to the revolution underway there. He quickly gained work as an animator for the Cuban Communist Party’s newspaper, 'Hoy' and felt at last he could use his skills in animation to serve an instructive social and political function.
Reade's tie in Cuba was productive and he had a lasting impact on the burgeoning new field of Cuban animation. Although being a ‘a tool of the Revolution’ was a role he had sought, his working environment had become fractious, his marriage failed and Reade became interested furthering his career as a journalist. In 1970 a slightly disillusioned Reade returned to Australia.
Reade had always been a voracious reader and had written articles from Cuba that had been published in Australian newspapers. On his return to Australia he took a job as a journalist with the Sunday Australian, wrote plays, his biography and illustrated books he had written for children. He died in 1998.
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