Family background
Patrick Bernard Arnold (‘Pat’) Levelle was born on 15 December 1913 at Tumbarumba, NSW, the son of Pat Levelle and Mary Richards. He married Violet Mary May Ryan (1911-1983) at Redfern, NSW, on 20 May 1939 and they had issue. He later married Alma Edith. He lived at 189 Cleveland Street, Redfern.
Levelle died on 17 July 1999 at Alexandria, NSW, aged 85 years and was cremated at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park.
Community activity
Patrick Levelle, an Australian Communist Party candidate and an organiser of the Ironworkers Union, won a by-election on 19 July 1947 for a seat on Redfern Council caused by the resignation of Thomas Powell. Levelle’s campaign focused on better homes for local residents and he believed local council’s played a leading roll in raising living standards of ordinary people. He announced he would advocate for improvements including the establishment of a memorial hall and club room for ex-servicemen, a youth club and recreational and social facilities for elderly people. He also proposed the construction of homes in Victoria Park and workers’ flats on vacant land. As a member of the Redfern Tenants’ Protection League, he added:
‘Redfern needs hundreds of new homes at cheap rentals, immediate relief to tenants whose homes are unrepaired, compensation for bedding and furniture spoiled through landlord neglect and free advocacy for all tenants in fair rent, eviction and other tenancy cases.’
Levelle was a confederate of May Webb, secretary of Redfern Tenant’s Protection League, a life-long Redfern resident and wife of a railway worker, who stood as a Communist candidate at a by-election on 21 February 1948 for Redfern Council. May Webb was unsuccessful.
In March 1948 Levelle presented a proposal to council for a community laundry. The Tribune newspaper reported Levelle ‘pointed out that Redfern backyards are only about 12 feet square and inadequate as drying space as the air is always fouled by soot from the railways, factory fumes and smoke.’ He urged a rates increase for landlords to cover the cost of the enterprise, however, Levelle’s fellow aldermen did not support the proposal. The same newspaper also reported Levelle was responsible for rent reductions for Redfern residents, as well as roof, bath and stove repairs for properties on Abercrombie Street.
Local government service
Patrick Levelle was elected an alderman for Redfern Ward at a by-election in 1947, winning by 14 votes. He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1948 City of Sydney Elections.
References
‘Municipal – Shire Elections’, Sydney Morning Herald, 19 November 1947, p.23, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27891977
‘Communist Stands For Redfern Ccl’, Tribune, 11 July 1947, p.7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206691688
‘Communist Wins Council Seat’, Tribune, 22 July 1947, p.1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206691855
Tribune, 13 November 1948, p.6, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/208113316
‘Community Laundry Plan’, Tribune, 10 March 1948, p.7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208108858
‘Communist Alderman Wins More Rent Cuts’, Tribune, 4 February 1948, p.7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208108197