Rest in Peace
John Brant Ellis
December 3, 1929 - June 15, 2019
A life well-lived,
his legacy will live on
I have been dreading getting this news for a long time, but nothing really prepares for the deep sadness and sense of loss when it finally comes.
Long-time friend, comrade, activist for peace and humanity, John Ellis will never be forgotten by anyone privileged to have known him.
His life's work will continue to serve future generations thanks to his vast and unique collection of photos and documents recording the struggles for a better world, now preserved forever in the Melbourne University Archives.
My sincere condolences to John's family, friends and especially to Dianne, his faithful partner and carer to the end.
Sadly, today’s world is not yet blessed with the peace and justice John devoted his whole life to achieving, but his example must motivate the rest of us to keep struggling for it, with the same positive energy and inspiration shown by the remarkable John Ellis.
Sadly, today’s world is not yet blessed with the peace and justice John devoted his whole life to achieving, but his example must motivate the rest of us to keep struggling for it, with the same positive energy and inspiration shown by the remarkable John Ellis.
Rest-In-Peace
John Ellis.
- Bruce McPhie
We always enjoyed meeting on my annual holiday from Vietnam
(Melbourne, November 2008)
(Melbourne, November 2008)
Opening night of Speak Out! exhibition, 2006
A moving tribute
for John Ellis by Peter Love on the Labour History website.
John Ellis
By Peter Love
Our long-time comrade and
radical activist John Ellis has died at home with Diane by his side.
It’s said that you’re not
dead ‘till you’re forgotten. If so, it’ll take a long time for John to go. We
remember his memoirs of a busy life as a PKIU workplace activist in Flinders
Street and later at Hawthorn where he printed many ‘foreigners’ for anti-war
and other campaigns. Like many printers he was fiercely proud of the skills his
trade conferred and the dignity that accompanied it, all of which was embodied
in their union and all that it stood for.
John was associated with
CICD in Melbourne from its earliest years. He attended many of its
demonstrations and functions, camera in hand, capturing the event for us all.
Political activism and photography were bound together in John’s life. When
recruiting me as his apprentice for labour movement photography he told me how
he came to it. He and his comrades at anti-war marches were irritated by ASIO
agents taking photographs of all their activity so John decided to turn the
tide and photograph them. Apparently ASIO was annoyed.
For most of his industrial and political activism, John
always carried his camera. Over the years he amassed a remarkable collection of
images and, to his enduring credit, kept them in reasonable order. It is
through John’s work that we have clear, engaging shots of demonstrations,
marches, speeches and songs, sometimes by very famous singers.
John’s sense of history, which attracted him to the Labour History Society where he maintained long-term membership, encouraged him to accept the offer from Melbourne University Archives to take his collection into their archives. They also helped him to arrange the photos into a coherent order with John’s comments on the images. As such, they are now the best collection of radical and labour movement photographs in the country. They stand as an enduring testimony of his devotion to the movement as well as a legacy for us all to embrace.
John’s sense of history, which attracted him to the Labour History Society where he maintained long-term membership, encouraged him to accept the offer from Melbourne University Archives to take his collection into their archives. They also helped him to arrange the photos into a coherent order with John’s comments on the images. As such, they are now the best collection of radical and labour movement photographs in the country. They stand as an enduring testimony of his devotion to the movement as well as a legacy for us all to embrace.
In his youth, John took an
interest in music, toying with various instruments, as many of us do, until he
eventually settled for choral singing with the Victorian Trade Union Choir.
Before that, he was already very keen on political music. He was captivated by
Paul Robeson and all that he represented. Pete Seeger was another of his
favourites who he sought out on a trip to the USA, along with other campaigner
for peace.
He enjoyed both the singing and the comradeship of the choir, where he made several deep and enduring friendships. I recall one occasion where he collapsed during a choir performance at Trades Hall and as the Ambos wheeled him out of the lift on a gurney, he handed me his camera and commanded me to get the ‘decisive moment’ as he was carried off. I obeyed and still have the image.
He enjoyed both the singing and the comradeship of the choir, where he made several deep and enduring friendships. I recall one occasion where he collapsed during a choir performance at Trades Hall and as the Ambos wheeled him out of the lift on a gurney, he handed me his camera and commanded me to get the ‘decisive moment’ as he was carried off. I obeyed and still have the image.
There’s a lot to be said
about John Brant Ellis but one thing stands out. He was a thoroughly decent,
interesting and engaging comrade. It was always good to be in his company and,
now, to rejoice in the memory of it.
Read more,
including details of John's photographic collection and public Comments:
About John
"John Brant Ellis was born on 3rd December, 1929 in Melbourne. He was educated at Albert Park Primary School and South Melbourne Technical School. Upon leaving school he completed a six-year apprenticeship to Hand and Machine Composition (Linotype operator). From 1951 till 1955 he held various typesetting jobs in Melbourne and Kalgoorlie as well as having a twelve month break on an overseas trip.
John had first become interested in photography when his mother gave him her precious bellows-type Kodak camera to take overseas in 1951..."
That's just the beginning.
Learn more about the remarkable life of John Ellis:
Learn more about the remarkable life of John Ellis:
Honouring
John Ellis
On Sunday 3 April, 2016 the Campaign for International Co-operation and Disarmament (CICD) paid tribute to the work of John Ellis as campaign activist and photographer in the cause of peace, honouring him with Life Membership.
University of Melbourne Archives
One of Australia's largest research archives, our rich and varied collections are available to all.
Search: John Ellis Collection
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