Vale

BODO: Bill Bodenham was renowned as a fighter for workers' rights, a great seaman, a great socialist and a great leader

Bill (the Boot) Bodenham had great loves in his life - his wife and family, his union and his political commitment to socialism. He had devoted the greatest part of his life to the union and working class politics and announced it was time to devote the rest of his life to his first love, his family, when, tragically, he died.

Bill stood down as secretary of the Maritime Union Veterans' Association at its annual conference in November. He collapsed after attending a book launch at the Maritime Museum that evening and died, without regaining consciousness days later.

Bill met Daphne when they were just six years old. There and then they formed a partnership that would last six decades.

"Daphne always said she picked him out at kindergarten," said lifelong comrade Tom Curphy. "They were both from the working class suburb of Wickham. Bill sold papers as a boy around the ships to help his mum. Wickham was a place where everybody helped each other - a very close knit working class suburb."

Bill went to sea and showed promise at an early age.

"He was always a delegate or bosun," said former union secretary Pat Geraghty. "They had to get past Bill before they could get stuck into anyone else. Ships were hard places and you had to be capable of looking after yourself or others who needed looking after. Sometimes ships needed a guiding hand like Bill's to keep on course."

Fights were not uncommon. Seamen detested fines and some skippers over the years gave them the option of a 'bit of a biff' or the 'logging'. Bill became a legend when he settled a difference with the captain on the wharf with the chief engineer as referee.

"Bill never got fined and he never lost," said Pat. "They both went back on board, resumed work and became the best of friends. It spoke volumes for the skipper."

Within the union and without, Bill Bodenham was renowned as a fighter for workers' rights.

The March 1961 Seamen's Journalfeatures Bill as one of the three Newcastle delegates at the union's national conference. Bill even got a mention on the front page of Pravda after speaking as an international delegate in Moscow alongside heads of state like Castro and Tito.

"The first time I met Bill we were handing out how to vote communist leaflets outside the polling booths at Gateshead public school on election day," Tom Curphy recalls. "I worked with him politically from that day till the day he died. Bill played a very prominent part in the Newcastle waterfront group of unions and in the political sphere. He was a shrewd political thinker. His death has been a terrible loss."

Bill Bodenham was a wonderful bloke," said National Secretary Paddy Crumlin. "Immutable. He was accused of being a political bloke and he loved that. He lived a political life. He was a committed internationalist. He always said the worker and politics were inseparable, that the working class would never be able to progress if it was not politically organised.

"His work with MUSAA and previously the SPA and the CPA was based on his understanding of the working class and his commitment to struggling for a better deal. Strong, democratic, hard working and principled he was an inspiration to his comrades."

Without Bill the union may not have had the National Veterans' Association. He played a big role in setting it up. And when Bill went to the ILWU Globalising Solidarity conference in the US he even came back with an international veterans' association.

A veteran socialist, Bill was a mentor to today's young leaders and many other maritime workers.

"I wouldn't have become involved in the union without Bill's straight talking leadership," Paddy Crumlin told National Council at the time of Bill's death. "He was direct. It's no good just sitting on your bloody surfboard. You get in there and do a bit for the union that feeds and looks after you and your family. If you've got a brain you'll know you've got F- all without the union. That was my introduction to Bill at 22."

Bill was a proud rank and filer who took pleasure in reminding officials of their responsibilities.

"He took it upon himself at national council to straighten us out a bit," Paddy recalls. "He told us the union needed to be in the streets and active in opposing the government's IR laws and the veterans would be there shoulder to shoulder. It's amazing how people were inspired by him and reflect on his long years of working class commitment. He along with Harry Black formed an international alliance with the ILWU pensioners and at the ILWU Convention last week he was especially remembered for his work and friendship."

Bill was a tough man. He spoke the vernacular. It is said when he lost his fingers on a tug under a wire, he simply cracked a couple of jokes and tossed them over the edge into the water. But Bill also had a heart of gold. His lifelong love for Daphne is testimony to this.

He was ruthless sometimes but he said you had to be when fighting a class struggle," said long time comrade Fred Krausert who took over form Bill as secretary of the Veterans. "But at the same time he'd visit every wharfie and seafarer who needed help. He believed in this union. He believed in people. He will go down in the history of the working class. We will carry his memory to our graves."

Bill (Bodo) Bodenham: (1935 - 2005) member of the Seaman's Union of Australia, Firemen and Deckhands' Union and MUA. National President of the Maritime Unionists' Socialist Activities Association (MUSAA), National Secretary of the MUA Veterans' Association. PHOTO: Bill and Daphne with ILWU comrades on the picket line, Victoria, Canada

Alwyn Allport: Strength & Inspiration

All Australian workers and their families face the most terrible and menacing future. We will need courage, strength and unflinching resolve in the great fightback ahead. However, if we draw from the lifelong example of Alwyn Allport and his family we cannot fail to gain strength and inspiration in our struggle.

Maritime workers owe the Allport family a colossal debt and the only reparation to Alwyn is to continue his lifelong fight and sacrifice for justice, peace and advancement for mariners and indeed the international working class.

Then raise the scarlet standard high

Beneath its fold we'll live and die

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer

We'll keep the red flag flying here.

Vale comrade - we salute you.

John Graham, John Pracy, John Gallagher and all MUA members

MV Spirit of Tasmania III

Long Serving

It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Alwyn Allport. Alwyn was a long serving member of the union who will be sadly missed by all.

The MUA members on board the Dampier Spirit would like to pass on our deepest sympathy to Vince and family. We are also making a donation to the leukaemia foundation out of respect for Alwyn.

MUA Members

Dampier Spirit

My Mate

The gentle rained seemed appropriate on April 13 when Allan (as he was known to us seamen) cashed in his chips.

Gone, never forgotten, his illness was lengthy, at times with considerable discomfort, which he bore stoically. He responded so well for the medical staff too, but left us on April 8 after countless hospital visits.

I feel Allan died as he wished with his loving family around him, and his close family friends not far away.

A leading unionist with socialist commitments, his life revolved around his union where he was once an SUA official. Allan possessed every decent principle - honesty, loyalty, realism and patience. Very rarely did he raise his voice and never did he come close to losing his temper.

His thoughts were for others, and in differing spheres. RSL North Ryde life membership, and his beloved bowls where he was of championship qualities. He was a good man with a fishing rod too. I have seen him charm fish onto his hook, whilst fellow rod-men could only envy in wonderment.

His priorities were #1 love for his family, #2 his friends. But the hand of friendship was extended to all as I personally found in 1948 when he gestured to me, then a stranger to join his group. He will be missed across the Tasman too.

Vale Allan ol' mate, I am proud to have had a loyal mate of your calibre.

My heart felt condolences to your Gloria, Catherine and Kerry and their extended families.

In fond memory

Paddy Berry

Life Member No: 1436

At the Forefront

It is with deep regret that we heard of the passing of Comrade Allport. He was an inspiration to all that knew him during his lifetime.

During Alwyn's time he and many other of his colleagues were in the forefront of many of the great struggles of the Seamans Union of Australia in particular and the working class generally.

Alwyn always remembered where he came from and never lost sight of where he was going. He always made himself available to lend a helping hand from such causes as the Columbus Picket Line, where he was the Convenor for the Overseas Shipping Campaign Committee, letter boxing during election times to the striking miners in Gunnedah. There are to many too mention.

He was a kind and understanding man and fiercely loyal to his Union and the struggles of the working class.

For those who never met Alwyn, they are experiencing many of the conditions and comforts that he and many others fought for over many years. For those who have met him, they will never forget his principles and where he stood on such issues as the rolling fund, world politics or issues surrounding the current maritime industry.

Alwyn will long be remembered amongst workers in the maritime industry as a true champion of their cause. With Alwyn's passing sees a closing of a chapter in our history.

We the members onboard the Northwest Snipe are eternally grateful for

Alwyn's contribution to the industry and are glad that he came by ourway.

May you rest in Peace Comrade.

MUA Members

Northwest Snipe

A full tribute to Comrade Allport next MWJ

Ronnie Catley: Good Bloke

I would like to take this opportunity to thank a lot of people who were very helpful when my brother Ron Catley passed away earlier this year.

Thanks to the MUA Sydney and Newcastle branches for helping organise transport from Newcastle to Balmain where the funeral took place. It was at St Augustine's Catholic Church, which Ron attended when he was a small boy.

Thanks to Fred Krausert for the eulogy he delivered on behalf of the Veterans' Association and to Robert Coombs for his eulogy on behalf of the MUA. Also thanks to my brother Albert who did a great job in representing our family.

It was great to see the church full and the same goes for the many that gathered at the Balmain Leagues Club to attend the wake we held for Ron. As expected many stayed well into the night. We thank the club management for the way they handled everything.

Ron is survived by his wife, four children and four grandchildren. He was a good bloke and good unionist, who liked a beer and a bet. He is sadly missed.

Our dear lifelong friend Ron Catley was a well-read person who had a wealth of knowledge and would always take the day off with a cup of tea while doing the daily crossword.

He spent the last weeks of his life at Mercy Hospice at Waratah Newcastle, where the treatment was A grade. The crew of Jabaru Venture heard how well he was treated and made a generous donation to the Mercy Hospice. Congratulations to the crew for being so thoughtful.

Jack Catley

Retired Member No: 7842

Loveable Larrikin

I saw Ron Catley as a lovable larrikin and a typical Balmain boy. Some may think that a good thing, others may not. He was irreverent and did not have much respect for authority. I guess that could apply to quite a lot of us. To say he loved a beer would be a gross understatement.

We had the good fortune to go to school with the Catley boys in Balmain. Ronnie was a good shipmate and good bloke and we agree. He would not brook any nonsense from anyone. All of us Carr boys agree on that and all liked and respected him.

Our condolences to Jack, Albert, and Ron's immediate family. Let them know that the Carr boys Kevin, John and myself - all life members - will miss Ron too.

My nephew, another Ron and also a seafarer, wishes to forward his condolences to all the family for their great loss.

Rest in peace Ronnie Catley. You were a true son of the working class.

Ron Carr

Union No 196

Bruce Wigginton: Proud Heritage

It is my sad duty to inform members of the passing of my father Bruce (Byron) Wigginton after a period of illness. He was born in 1937 in Newcastle NSW and spent his childhood in Wallsend before moving to Birchgrove and Balmain as a teenager when his father got a job as a mine manager at the colliery.

Bruce served his apprenticeship as a coppersmith at Cockatoo dockyard, before doing his nashos and later a short stint in the Navy. He moved his family to Perth in 1962 and got away on the Koojarra as a greaser in 1965.

From then until late '75 he shipped out on the usual assortment of state boats and iron boats, including a year on the wharf in 1969, when he transferred to Port Kembla for family reasons.

He then worked bulkies until 1978, when he joined the Lysaght Enterprise where he stayed until medivaced out by helicopter in 1986, and given a "holiday" by the Nav. doctor.

When he returned to sea, it was back to the iron boats. Bruce attended the Maritime College in late 1991 (Group I) for retraining and drove the tutors at Annandale mad with the precision of his work.

Unfortunately, the introduction of compulsory medicals saw Bruce having to retire from the industry in 1995. However this didn't see him give the sea away entirely as he worked at the National Maritime Museum as a volunteer, and later with the Heritage Fleet on the rebuilding of the James Craig, an episode he was rightly proud of.

Another proud moment was when he was granted life membership of both the SUA and the MUA. Both medallions had pride of place on his mantelpiece.

Bruce was a quiet man, who tended to get his work done with a minimum of fuss. In fact I was told by more than one ex shipmate at the funeral that there were times when it was easy to forget he was actually on board.

Bruce was cremated at Pinegrove Cemetery last August. In accordance with his wishes, his ashes were scattered on Sydney harbour in April. He is survived by his three children and four grandchildren.

I would like to express my appreciation to Robert Coombs and Stan Wall for their assistance with the organising of the scattering.

Bruce Saunders

Union No: 1044

Terry Bateman:

War Veteran

Terry Bateman, CTAL comrade and "true human" lost his battle with cancer last October. Terry was 58 years young. At his funeral, the chapel was so full with his family and friends, many spilled outside. Terry was a well-liked man.

Those who worked with Terry, and I was one, were very fortunate to have known him as a really sincere person who criticised no one at work, and would go out of his way to help. I always remember a smile on his face, for everyone, even when he knew his time was near.

Terry joined the maritime industry and the union in 1971. He worked in the roster and pay office as a clerk and grade 6 team leader for CTAL Sydney terminal, retiring in 1999.

Terry was a Vietnam veteran who served his country with pride and distinction in the front line of the infantry. In doing so, he would have exposed himself to all the contaminated cocktails, like Agent Orange, 2,4-D and 2,4-T.

One must ask the question - would this have helped speed the cancer? It certainly could not have helped. The chaplain at Terry's funeral said that anybody who had served in a war zone took 10 years off his or her life.

The world would be a better place if there were a lot more people of Terry's character and makeup. He was a very devoted family man and all my sympathies go to his loving wife Carol and family. He will be missed and never forgotten.

Phil Toby

Life Member No: 5005541

Andy Flindstone: Shipmate

Family and friends of Andy Flindstone gathered at the Bangalow Bowling Club to say farewell. He was a good shipmate, and a good seaman. He was proud to be a member of the Maritime Union of Australia and proud that his son Zac will carry on the tradition.

Andy had an incredible life and his stories will live for generations to come. He will be sadly missed and always remembered. If you knew Andy, give him a ring on the bell to say goodbye.

Martin Freeman

Union No 6017553

Bruce Meecham: Off the Beaten Track

A popular member and great traveller has passed away. We can share the loss with his family and work comrades.

Bruce was one to seek the truth and meaning of life and lived it with style. His life was a story waiting to be written.

All those who knew and worked with Bruce will have memories to share about his travels and adventures. He inspired many to follow him and go off the beaten track.

Rest in peace, Bruce.

Shaun Rehill

Melbourne

Union No: 5017081