Summary

Australia New South Wales
Operative Painters & Decorators Union Proficiency Award c. 1980 (AD)
Mint: Perfection Badges
Awarded to: Not issued. The Operative Painters' and Decorators' Union originated as a craft union in the nineteenth century. It retained this tradition within the building industry until large-scale union amalgamation occured in the late 1980s, initiated by the Australian Council of Trade Unions. The Union was first registered federally in 1910 as the Federated House & Ship Painters, Paperhangers & Decorators Employees' Association Australasia. By 1915 it had become the Operative Painters & Decorators of Australasia. In 1918 the name changed again, to the Operative Painters' & Decorators' Union of Australia. Seventy-five years later, in 1993, the union amalgamated to form the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union. The Department of Technical Education, which issued this award, was established in NSW in 1949; in 1974 it became Department of Technical and Further Education (TAFE).

Physical Description

An unissued bronze prize medal (44 mm diameter) with 'antiqued bronze' finish. It features an artists pallet , paint brushes and tools and has space on the reverse within a wreath for a winner's name and detaild to be engraved.

Obverse Description

An artists pallet , paint brushes and tools; around on broad rim, DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION OF NEW SOUTH WALES around within rim, OPERATIVE PAINTERS & DECORATORS UNION, below, PROFICIENCY AWARD

Reverse Description

Below open wreath in small letters the mint name, PERFECTION BADGES

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

The Operative Painters' and Decorators' Union originated as a craft union in the nineteenth century. It retained this tradition within the building industry until large-scale union amalgamation occured in the late 1980s, initiated by the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

The Union was first registered federally in 1910 as the Federated House & Ship Painters, Paperhangers & Decorators Employees' Association Australasia. By 1915 it had become the Operative Painters & Decorators of Australasia. In 1918 the name changed again, to the Operative Painters' & Decorators' Union of Australia. Seventy-five years later, in 1993, the union amalgamated to form the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union. -Australian Trade Union Archives web site http://www.atua.org.au/biogs/ALE0678b.htm. -D. Tout-Smith 26/9/2003.

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