Brunswick Labor.net

John Patrick, or Jack, Mutton died on Tuesday night at the Northern Hospital in Epping.

Jack was Member for Coburg from 1967 to 1979, succeeding his father Charlie Mutton as the Independent Labor MP. The rebellion of the Blackburn/Mutton faction of the ALP remains one of the most amazing chapters of Labor history in Victoria.

Early 20th century Brunswick was an industrial working class suburb – and like most of Melbourne’s working class suburbs it was home to numerous pubs.

Sydney Road especially was home to a number of hotels, but it was also home to a strong Methodist/Protestant community and it was this conflict that would make Brunswick the centre stage for one of the great political and ideological contests of the 1907 State election.

Political assemblies – demonstrations and picket lines – are fundamental to popular campaigns. The right to assemble is very important to unions and the left. And it often comes under attack from the political right. Fighting for the right to assemble has been a recurring theme in our political history.

Nowadays the Merri Creek, with its linear park, bike path and community facilities is one of the great features of our area. But it took a lot of work and tenacity to renew the creek after a century of abuse.

Frank Anstey represents a contradictory strand in Labor's early history in Brunswick. In him faith immorality are intertwined. Sectarianism & hope exist side by side in this significant early Labor figure.