Biographical Register

STANLEY, Creo (?-1940)

B.? Clermont, Queensland. D. ? & ?, Cuban immigrant. M. (1) ? Dooley 18??; divorced 18??. M. (2) E.J. Brady (q.v.), union official & journalist, 1895; separated soon afterwards, reputedly refusing divorce. D.?1940.

Spent childhood in Sydney; pursued acting career until afflicted by lung ailment and forced to take employment in umbrella factory. 1891, organiser & first secretary of Female Employees' Union of NSW, organising laundresses, barmaids & waitresses. First female delegate to LCNSW Sept. 1891, taking seat 'dressed in semi-masculine attire'; member of Council’s Organising Committee. With Council approval, established Redfern Co-operative Laundry to provide work for laundresses on strike at Pyrmont Steam Laundry Oct. 1891, becoming manageress; special Council inquiry subsequently launched into her alleged mismanagement of strike funds & Co-operative; resigned FEU secretaryship Jan. 1892 despite being cleared of all charges by internal FEU investigation; also subsequently exonerated by Council. Member Australian Socialist League. Had extra-marital affair with fellow ASL activist E.J. Brady prior to marrying him; resisted William Lane's attempts to recruit her as an organiser for the New Australia expedition.

V. Burgmann, 1985; 'Brady, Edwin James', ADB 7; W. Nichol, LH, no.36.

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