Port of Call
Women of the West
FREMANTLE: Unions WA have appointed MUA delegate Kaz Leavy (above) as a casual
unions@work trainer. Kaz who works for Adsteam Tugs as a casual IR will be teaching
classes in regional centres as far afield as Kalgoorlie, Broome and Albany.
Kaz, who is also MUA assistant Women's Liaison officer, is pictured above with
new MUA offshore recruit Shaun (Glassie) Glass, cook Angela Zutt, wharfie Jill
Tabram, IR Fiona Parry and branch deputy secretary Keith Ridgeway. Under the
heading "Women Claim the Sea" the local Herald newspaper explained how MUA women
are now working alongside the blokes on the ships and wharves. "In this day
and age women have come to the forefront and can do what guys can do, not only
in white collar work but in blue collar work," said Kaz. "You just do your work
the same as the next bloke." Meanwhile, Shaun Glass, who came into the union
this year under the new MUA/AWU alliance, explained how her job on Vaianus Island,
112 kilometres west of Dampier still has a long way to go before women in the
industry are totally accepted. But generally the guys "are really good value".
The Beetles
SYDNEY: It was pre-dawn on the midnight shift, January 20 when MUA crane foreman
Mark Kearne first spotted trouble on board the Contship Auckland at P&O Port
Botany. "We were just about to start unlashing the boxes when I noticed a few
bugs around the deck," he said. ""They looked a bit like a cockroach. The more
we looked the more we could see. There were plenty of them." Down below workmate
Brad McGuill spotted a few on the wharf. "That was enough for me," said Mark.
"They'd only lifted one container before I stopped operations. I went straight
to the supervisor and got him to notify quarantine." Further down the ship MUA
wharfie Robert Stamenkovic had also reported in. "I was on the other crane working
adjacent to Mark. We just completed the unlashing when I saw dozens of beetles
all along the deck. I thought this can't be good. We'd better get it checked
and stopped the crane. I like to keep an eye out. I know what damage they can
do." The Quarantine Port Botany Zone Newsletter warns the exotic Burnt Pine
Longicorn Beetle common to Europe, Asia and New Zealand could attack Australian
eucalypt and pine trees. Quarantine officers searched the ship and wharf by
torchlight, collecting about 100 specimens of an estimated 1000 infesting the
ship's cargo. The ship was ordered back to sea beyond the 12 nautical mile limit
that day. "We've all done our courses with quarantine out here," said Mark.
"Customs have also spoken to us about looking out for anything suspicious like
sus boxes that look like they've been tampered with and might conceal drugs."
Dinner with Gerry Adams
SYDNEY: MUA officials and delegates dined with Irish leader Gerry Adams at
Parliament House, Sydney in February. On a 10 day visit to Australia, the West
Belfast MP and Sinn Fein leader highlighted the importance Irish Australians
had played in labour struggles and national history both here and abroad. Gerry
Adams is a big supporter of civil rights, not just for the Irish still under
the thumb of British imperialism. He was one of the first to register his support
for the Maritime Union of Australia during the 1998 lockout. In turn MUA National
Secretary Paddy Crumlin (of proud Irish Republican family) has written to the
UK PM Tony Blair in recent times protesting the lack of action on the peace
plan. Attending the fundraiser at parliament house were MUA officials Jim Tannock,
Mick Doleman, Dean Summers, Robert Coombs, Rod Currie,Warren Smith, Raelene
Jefferson and family as well as MUA members Jack Haub, Evan Sheard and Peter
Origlass. MUA member Sean Chaffer was asked to conduct the auction.
Award Winning Wharfie
COWELL: The townships citizen award this year goes to retired MUA member Terry
Hickman. A former union organiser and Secretary of the Sydney May Day committee
for a quarter of a century, Terry decided to employ his considerable people
skills to the small South Australian community that he adopted as his new home
in 1995. Within a year he was president of the Franklin Harbour Aquatics Area
and began overseeing improvements including the boat ramp. Terry received his
award at the Australia Day breakfast on January 26. He told the local press
it would take pride of place alongside two of his other achievements - his life
membership of the Waterside Workers' Federation and his invitation to dinner
with Nelson Mandela following 25 years of lobbying for his release.
World Profile
BICHENO: This small coastal resort Tasmanian town has now got world status
thanks to a local initiative. Retired member Steve Whitton reports the town
presented a freedom of entry charter to the Australian Merchant Navy Awards
Council Foundation national executive officer Daryl Smith in February. This
makes the tiny east coast port open house to 2000 seafarers and 45 ships. It
is the first time any locality in the world has granted freedom of the city
to the merchant Navy. Bicheno is home to many mariners and ex mariners and has
a strong affinity to the sea. In September last year a $30,000 memorial to the
merchant navy was unveiled at the township. Veteran seafarer John E. Mark Helman,
honorary MUA Welfare Officer in Fremantle travelled across the continent for
the occasion: "On a rather windy and pleasant day, I had the honour to represent
the branch and attend the unveiling. I laid a wreath in memory for the MUA,
in memory of all seafarers who gave their lives for us in war and also to those
who lost their lives in peace and for this great nation of ours. "The memorial
was unveiled by the children of Bicheno Primary School who are to be the carers
of the memorial which also honours with dignity and pride Aboriginal heroine
of the sea Waubadebar (1792-1830) whose grave is just 60 yards away. "I wish
to thank all my comrades for sending me and my wife over there to this memorial
event. I donated the $300 left over to the Retired Members Christmas Party in
December. As old Elliot used to say 'keep her on course'. I'm 83 years old,
still full steam ahead."
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