Further research in the ongoing series about the late New Zealand Communist author , Jean Devanny , has resulted in more interesting discoveries about the activist and other people with whom she had contact and their close associates. Devanny’s personal papers, which include correspondence with leading Australian literary figures , are held in the Special Collections section at James Cook University library, Townsville. A previous post in the Jean Devanny series covered correspondence between her and Communist author Frank Hardy when he was stationed at the Mataranka Army camp in the Northern Territory during WW 11, running a publication called the Troppo Tribune ; it mentioned that the camp had inspired the playwright and author Sumner Locke Elliott to write the controversial play, Rusty Bugles ; also in the camp was another Communist , Paul Mortier, who had trained for the priesthood , with whom Hardy became very close .
A recent discovery is that Mortier played an important part in the early days of the Workers’ Club in Darwin soon after the end of the war. In l946 he was the manager of the club , which it was envisaged would become “one of the greatest community centres in Northern Australia.” The club was only six months old when Mortier outlined his vision for the place in the union run Northern Standard of August 9 of that year. He spoke of a speakers’ class for men and women and a debating society which would hold public debates in the nearby stadium in Cavenagh Street.These activities would be a step towards developing the club as a real social and community centre for Darwin residents. Another possibility for the near future,he said, was a trade union class , based on rules and regulations of the North Australian Workers’ Union and would cover the tasks of a union representative .
Mortier said it would be possible to launch an amateur dramatic society for the presentation of revues and sketches ( these kind of activities were performed at Mataranka and at Adelaide River where Mortier had also served during the war) . The society could begin with a talent night or similar opening function. The club’s amplifier could be used for new social evenings covering jazz and classics . Other possible activities included establishment of a chess club under a tutor; opening of an extensive library; holding of billiards and table tennis tournaments .
As the years went by the club would become regarded as merely a noisy, very popular drinking hole for workers; after getting into financial difficulties it was sold up. It will come as a surprise that under Mortier’s management he envisaged the club becoming a cultural centre for the whole community. Mortier went south and was a devoted foot soldier for Communism, contributing much to the Tribune newspaper, receiving little in the way of payment. Involved with theatrical groups, he also took part in demonstations against the Korean War. As mentioned in a previous post, Mortier suffered deep depression and suicided. His death shocked Frank Hardy who hitchhiked to Darwin, spent time in the Workers’ Club and became deeply involved with the Gurindjis land claim at Wattie Creek , details of which will be included in the ongoing biography of the NT crusading editor, Jim Bowditch. After long contact with Mortier’s activist widow , Hardy wrote a novel in which one of the characters was based on her husband, his representation causing her deep distress.
