Port of Call

Peter Garrett visit to MUA rooms, surfing champs back MUA

RockEnrol

The soon to be member for Kingsford Smith, environmentalist and former rock star Peter Garrett was guest of honour at the MUA veteran's weekly get together in Sussex Street on August 3.

"They call me a tree hugger and a feral, but the fact is all my campaigns have a strong human dimension," he told the gathering of 60 retired wharfies and seafarers, wives and MUA officials. "I reject life as a jungle. There's only been one dominant force for reforming this country and that's Labor. I made up my mind years back that if I ever joined a political party, I'd join the ALP."

Garrett agreed to proposals put by Sydney Branch Secretary Robert Coombs and the floor to continue the campaign against flag of convenience shipping by closing the loopholes in the Navigation act, supporting the Freedom of Information action to expose the Howard Government's involvement in the waterfront conspiracy, repealing the Workplace Relations Act and restoring Aboriginal rights and democracy under attack by the Howard Government.

He outlined his three primary commitments if a Latham Government was elected - Australia signing the Kyoto Protocol and committing to renewable energy and job creation projects such as wind power; saving the Murray River and protecting both jobs and forests in Tasmania.

Other issues close to his heart were a coastal policy and funding for public housing that embraces environmental energy conservation.

Garrett's electorate encompasses Port Botany container terminals and communities of waterside workers surrounding it. He promised to keep the union up to date on plans to expand the port and local environmental concerns.

As Kingsford Smith is considered a safe Labor electorate, Garrett has also been campaigning on behalf of Labor in marginals seats.

He warned maritime workers that the next election would be tough.

"Polling is close. I share none of the views of John Howard, but I don't underestimate him. He's a tough, wily politician and he's going to be hard to beat."

Members who have children or family old enough to vote but not yet enrolled let them know about the funky Radio Triple J, electoral commission website; http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/rockenrol/

Surfs up

Maritime workers joined surfers around the coast over winter to catch a wave, slick up and raise public awareness about the environmental threat of FoC shipping.

In WA, surfing giant Wayne Deane and Qld state champion Erin Nicholls spoke out:

"There's a lot of people making a lot of money and not putting anything back in," said former world champ Wayne Dean. "They register these ships of shame in one country, crew them in another and you can never track down who the owner is when something goes wrong. We need to educate our youth about what's going on."

"They should be banned totally," said Nicholls. "The rusting ones and the ones that crash just shouldn't be out there."

This years winners for the national longboard competition were: Jackson Close,Qld, 2nd-Erin Nicholls, Qld and 3rd-Rahn Goddard, WA

WinterSun

On the Goldcoast, surfer's and seamen joined forces once again to celebrate the annual Wintersun Old Malibu Championships, held at Coolangatta beach on June 5.

Organiser Bruce Doleman reports: The Tweed Coast Old Malibu Club have been standing beside seafarers for nine years now, in running this event. The common goal is to rid Australia's pristine coastline of cheap foreign flagged vessels.

While the event progressed, as usual we had our trusty comrades out spreading the word of the devastating effects one of these rust buckets would have on our beaches if it came to grief. Once again the general public were amazed at how a government could allow these ships to trade along our shores.

The following weekend when the festival was in full swing and thousands were out celebrating we unveiled our new Slick Kid's program.

Guest of honour was Justine Elliot, the ALP candidate for the seat of Richmond. Justine is standing against the Larry "The Loser" Anthony. And in the spirit of the day Justine's little boy wanted to be a Slick Kid, with three other children.

The question was then put to the onlookers: Would you like your children swimming in oily beaches? The answer was a very simple no thank you.

Working Waves

Meanwhile MUA member Sean Chaffer reports the 9th Annual Working Waves Surfing contest was run and won on another sunny day in March at Soldiers Beach on the NSW Central Coast.

The event brings together Maritime Union members from the three NSW ports to battle out divisions in Surfing; open shortboard, open longboard, legend shortboard, and legend longboard.

The "Comrades Cup", a handicap Run-Swim-Run event which has been dominated by the Newcastle Branch's Scott Henderson, has risen to great prominence. With regular handicapper Jack Catley away it was anticipated that a blanket finish was on the cards. Clearly more research has to be done as Bernie Burns won by a country mile under the watchful eye of the Central Coast bosun Bob Gray!

Places were as follows: Open Shortboard, Bronte boy John "Bones" Dwyer bagged the big one; Open Longboard: Jeremy Boland beat Dean Sampson ensuring bragging rights at Botany; Legend Shortboard Final: Allen Galvin reclaimed the title he has had a monopoly on except last year when the blonde bombshell Bobby Moore beat him. Legend longboard Titles: Bernie Burns beat Bondi legend Dave Byron adding to his comrades cup win.