Miner's coat

This working man's coat was known as a 'Lambie' (or 'Lamby'), and was worn by miner Donald Ross (1923-2015) in the Strongman Mine near Greymouth in the 1950s. Being made of two layers of wool kept its wearer warm, and the outer layer was water repellant and could be shaken dry.

It was made by the Petone Woollen Mills from good quality New Zealand wool, and has shown durability as Donald Ross wore it until 2005, then his wife Marion Ross wore it until 2007.

Donald was an avid workers’ rights advocate. He led his first protest march at Whangārei Boys' High when he was 16 years old when he objected to the school master burning pupils' belongings found out of place. He studied law at university in New Zealand after he left school but his education was cut short by World War II, when he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Even though Don studied law, he spent most of his working life as an industrial worker. He was a miner between 1955–64, and also worked in forestry.

The Ross family remember Don as a person who led from behind and didn't like the spotlight. He was a 'subtle persuader' who always advocated for equality and justice. He was the New Zealand Trade Union Secretary between 1948–54, a member of the New Zealand Workers Union, and a writer, editor and publisher for 'Struggle' magazine.