Notices

Fighting Films, The 1928 Strike, Seafarers' Records, Correction, Talent Search, Striking a Note, SERF Seminars

Fighting Films

A book about the union film unit which flourished in the fifties is about to hit the presses.

Entitled We Film the Facts: A History of the Wharfies Film Unit, the book will be launched at the Maritime Museum on November 3.

Written by Professor Lisa Milner who studied the old Sussex Street film unit for her Phd thesis at the University of Wollongong and published by Pluto press, Fighting Films examines the interplay between trade unionism, left independent film makers and cultural nationalism.

The sweat of eighth years research, Milners' book provides an authoritative and lively account of the work of the film unit, as they covered strikes and industrial actions, chronicling part of our forgotten history.

National Secretary Paddy Crumlin has also written to the AMWU, CFMEU and ACTU seeking sponsorship for the publication.

Lisa Milner has already published four features on the unit and has written extensively on film and theatre and left wing organisations.

The union has recently ordered new copies of all 19 Film unit productions on VHS and DVD. These are available for members at your branch rooms.

The 1928 Strike

Adelaide: Wharfie veterans have joined forces with local actors, community groups and the state maritime museum state government, local MPs to stage a play of the great strike of 1928.

28 September the day of the strike. John Coombs speaker.

The project has brought the community together with local artists, members of the port Historical Society, retired members,, the local library, the union and the Maritime Museum and two Melbourne actors all pitching.

Project managers are retired wharfies Arthur Shertock and Jackie Phillips.

The play, Strike in the Port, will also include a re-enactment, poetry readings, soup kitchen, speeches, jazz band. All participants will be made honorary members of the WWF. The play will be staged in the old WWF hall.

Seafarers' records

Seafarers' records predating 1972 are now in the National Archives of Australia.

AMSA contacted the union in April to say it would be consigning all service records from 1922-1972 to the archives and that inquiries citing full name, date and place of birth of the seafarer, the period of service and names of any ships served on should go to the archives reference service:

Tel: 1300 886 881

Email: ref@naa.gov.au

Website: http://www.naa.gov.au

Correction

Sharing and remembering on p11 of the last Maritime Workers Journal reported that P&O Port Botany had donated items for auction in support of Bali Bombing victim MUA member Ross McKeon.

All items were in fact sourced by White Bay employees and management as well as Tracee White from P&O Corporate.

We apologise for the error and thank Bill Wheeler Maintenance Coordinator, White Bay and White Bay members for their generosity in making the night such a success.

Talent Search

The SEARCH Foundation is now calling for applications for the annual Denis Freney memorial Scholarships.

Up to $5,000 in grants go to research, writing or cultural projects which are judged to make a contribution to the labour and progressive movement.

Last year the MUA won a grant to help bring the Harry Bridges performance to worksites and the New Theatre in Newtown, Sydney.

Projects which have good prospects of publication or other public use, without access to other funding, are likely candidates for SEARCH funding.

Contact SEARCH - Social Education and Research Concerning Humanity, for detailed application guidelines

Rm 610 Smail St, Broadway NSW 2007

Tel (02) 9211 4164

Fax (02) 9211 1407

www.search.org.au

Striking a Note

SYDNEY: If you like to sing songs with a political edge, the Sydney Trade Union Choir may be the place for you. The choir is looking for new members.

Maritime workers may have heard the choir's rendition of 'Solidarity Forever' at the Patrick picket, at Tas Bull's funeral.

Retired MUA member Bill Highfield is one of its members.

Last year the choir produced Union Made, a CD of our 10th anniversary concert. It is a collection of traditional and contemporary political songs, most of them with a union flavour. Twenty two unions sponsored the CD including the MUA.

Choir members need not be able to read music - you just have to enjoy singing.

The choir always happy to perform at union or community functions and practice in the city on Tuesday evenings, 6-8pm.

Interested in joining or finding out more about the Choir?

Ring 9665 0559

SERF Seminars

Brisbane: July 22, 10-2pm, MUA rooms; Melbourne: July 29, 10-2, North Melbourne Town Hall, Cnr Queensberry St & Errol St; Adelaide: August 5, 10-12, MUA rooms; Sydney: August 19, 10-12 Masonic Center, 279 Castlereagh St, Sydney; Fremantle: August 27, 10-2, MUA rooms.

Phone SERF on 1800 804 020 to register your interest.