He moved to Cessnock in 1908 to work at Neath Colliery and later at Aberdare Extended Colliery. He became a cricketer, first-grade footballer and militant socialist trade union leader. He was a councillor of Cessnock Shire from January until October 1914 and was the first president of the Australian Coal and Shale Employees' Federation from 1915 until 1922.
In 1908, he made the move to Cessnock to take up positions at Neath Colliery and later Aberdare Extended Colliery. He pursued a career in sports, becoming a skilled cricketer and footballer, while also advocating for workers' rights as a militant socialist trade union leader. He held public office as councillor of Cessnock Shire from January to October 1914 and led the Australian Coal and Shale Employees' Federation from 1915 to 1922.