Admired AWU hero memorabilia sells for $360,000

The memorabilia of an AWU hero, Jackie Howe, was auctioned last night for an extraordinary $360,000.

The collection of medals and AWU-related items belonging to the legendary Queensland shearer, auctioned by Sotheby's in Melbourne, was expected to be sold for between $25,000 and $30,000.Instead heated bidding for items owned by Howe, a folk hero, shearer and committed unionist went for ten times the expected price!

Howe helped to found both the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) and the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in Queensland.He wanted the voice of working people and their families to be heard loud and clear both in the workplace and in Parliament.

AWU items auctioned

Howe joined the Shearers Union ( which became the AWU) in the 1880's and was on the Union Executive throughout the 1890s.

He ran the election campaign for TJ Ryan, who became the first ever Labor Premier of Queensland.

Bradman of the shearing sheds

It is this record that earned Howe legend status and the gold medal for this record was at the centre of last night's auction.

It was Jackie Howe's descendants who decided to sell this important part of their family history - a history admired by the AWU and across Australia.

The Jackie Howe singlet

Howe still holds the 116-year-old shearing record which has become part of Australian folklore.

" For a little while the AWU contemplated buying this important part of our union's history," Paul Howes, AWU National Secretary, said." But the bidding exploded. We sat back and watched, and admired, how much Australians valued such an important part of our social and political culture."