A celebration of the life of the late Joe Owens will be held at the Sydney Trades Hall Auditorium TODAY, Thursday 20th September from10-30 am to 12-00 pm . 

Joe passed away earlier this month at Macksville on the NSW North Coast. Joe was a building worker who became an organiser with the NSW BLF in 1970 during the period the Branch revolutionised the way NSW unions operated. The officials only ran two terms then went back to the job to stay in touch with members and their issues.

Joe played a leading role in the Green Ban campaign and went on to become Branch secretary. After the federal intervention by the Gallagher forces, Joe became a FEDFA member and activist.

Joe was one of the team of officials and members of the FEDFA that assisted in removing the corrupt QLD Branch leadership. He was FEDFA site delegate on the Darling Harbour site and long time member of the Branch committee of management. In later years Joe went on to become a trainer and assessor in our industry.

Joe will be remembered by all of us whose lives he touched.

• Herald-Sun report on the Celebration of Joe's Life at Trades Hall: 'Unionist Joe Owens remembered in Sydney'.
• CFMEU NSW News: Cranes fall silent at 11.00am in tribute to Joe Owens