| Issy Wyner's parents migrated to Australia in 1914 via London from Latvia. They settled in Marrickville, Sydney, where Issy was born; the family then moved to Rozelle in 1920. Not long after they moved the short distance to Balmain where Issy would live for the next 88 years. |
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Isadore 'Issy' Wyner
(30.06.1916–13.08.2008)
Photo courtesy Wyner Family
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Issy Wyner grew up in a turbulent era. The world was in turmoil; 1916 was the middle of the First [Imperialist, as Issy would say] World War. The year after Issy was born the Russian Revolution occurred. In 1921 the Communist Party of Australia was formed and Samuel Wyner, Issy's father, was a founding member. His father's interest in politics was deeply ingrained in Issy at an early age. |
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Issy's early education was at Pigeon Ground (Gladstone Park) School in Balmain where he encountered his first taste of discrimination. A class photo from the 1920s shows a very dark child among all the white children. Issy said that this boy was picked on and called a Jew boy. Even though Issy was Jewish he did not get the same treatment as the dark kid and he went on to fight against all forms of discrimination. He offered support for Italian and Greek immigrants in the 1950s. Long before they became mainstream issues he was at the forefront of Aboriginal rights and the women's movement. |
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In 1932 Samuel Wyner was expelled from the Communist Party. After years of unemployment he disappeared, leaving the family to fend for itself. Issy attended Drummoyne High School where he won a bursary to Fort Street High School. Unfortunately the family could not afford the uniform, shoes or books. Issy was humiliated. He was also at odds with the school curriculum. When it was suggested that he read the work of John Maynard Keynes, he suggested Marx was a better alternative. |
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Issy left school aged 16 to become the head of the family of three brothers, a sister and his mother. His sister Marie tells of being badgered by Issy to do her schoolwork. He and his brothers George, Jack and Victor had an extremely close relationship. |
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Issy's lack of formal education did not slow him down. He went on to publish three books and many articles for magazines and local papers. He also taught himself music and languages and mentored a state chess champion. |
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By the age of 22 Issy had joined the Young Communist League and been expelled, and had joined the Unemployed Workers Movement led by Jack Sylvester who was a great influence on him. At this time he met another Balmain legend, Nick Origlass, with whom he formed a life-long political relationship. |
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