The Union is deeply saddened at the recent death of Life Member Gordon Penhall.
Gordon joined the ETU South Australian Branch on the ninth of July 1968 as an apprentice working at the Electricity Trust of South Australia (ETSA). Early in his working life Gordon became a leader standing up for himself and fellow union members as a Shop Steward. During his long career he never wavered in serving workers. He was a long-term SA Branch State Councillor, Delegate to Branch conference and founding member of the SA Power Industry Sub Committee, he frequently attended various national union forums as a representative of the SA Branch. Gordon would regularly turn up in the union office just to volunteer to help the organisers and admin team any way he could.
Gordon was long serving member of the Australian Labour Party who was active in his sub-branch and in supporting Labor candidates and MPs over many years. He was a committee member of the Labor Academy and was a frequent participant in ALP State Conventions and State Council meetings as a CEPU SA Delegate.
Gordon had a deep interest in Labour history and the history of the CEPU SA Branch. He was an active member of the Labor History Society and would often spend time in the CEPU SA office digging through dusty archive files looking for interesting bits of our past.
Gordon was an irrepressibly enthusiastic supporter of Union and Labour campaigns and causes. He did not let Parkinson disease slow him down and did not give up the struggle in retirement. He was a key figure in revitalising the South Australian Retired Unionist Network and could be relied on to attend rallies and meetings in support of workers’ struggles.
Gordon Penhall led a life that is a shining example of what unionism is. He will be missed by all at the CEPU SA Branch.
A funeral service in honour of Gordons life will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday 21st December at Simplicity Funerals on the corner of South and Beach Roads, Morphett Vale.
Space at the venue will be limited, the service will also be live streamed: OneRoom – Viewer (oneroomstreaming.com)
