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           Shipping Stevedoring Port Services Hydrocarbons Diving  Jul-Aug 2008        |
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Wharfies' mural unveiled08 April 2008By ANMM/MUA media alert -
Maritime workers take close look Tuesday, 8 April, at 6 pm Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour More than 200 maritime workers on Tuesday evening will inspect a large part of one of the most vivid reminders of the 20th century's epic industrial struggles on Australia's waterfront. The Australian National Maritime Museum has just put on display the first section of the renowned Wharfies' Mural, a large-scale work of art which originated on the walls of the Waterside Workers Federation (WWF) canteen in Sussex Street, Sydney, in the 1950s and 60s. The mural, painted by several artists including waterside workers - 'wharfies', uses powerful imagery to narrate Australia's working class history from the 1930s Depression to World War II. "It's a significant social document that exalts the workers' struggle against oppression... and the power of unity," says National maritime Museum curator Patricia Miles. When the union moved in 1991 the mural was removed from the walls and re-mounted in new premises. In 1995 the recently-formed Maritime Union of Australia moved again, donating the mural to the National Maritime Museum. Since then the museum, with considerable assistance from the MUA, has carried out extensive conservation treatment on the various sections of large artwork. "The Maritime Union has gone to great cost to preserve this masterpiece of labour culture," said MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin. "By donating the work of art to the museum we investing in union culture and union history. The donation also reflects our appreciation for the role the Australian National Maritime Museum plays in preserving our heritage." The 2.2 metre x 1.8 metre section now on display illustrates the suffering of the working class in the 1930s depression, industrial resistance and the fight against Fascism. A family is evicted from its home. Wharf gates are locked and unemployed workers line up for the dole, while the Unemployed Workers movement demonstrates against the dole and for the right to work. Wharfies stack heavy lead 'pigs' (bars) by hand, displaying their heroic strength while
they raise their fists in resistance to oppression. Workers reach out to help their fellows under the Nazi yoke in Europe. In the centre the face of WWF leader Jim Healy symbolises the triumphs of the union and the workers. Media note: More than 200 waterside workers, in Sydney for the Maritime Union of Australia national conference, the 10th anniversary of the Patrick dispute and the associated Laborfest Oz arts program, will visit the Australian National Maritime Museum on Tuesday evening. The museum function, which starts at 6 pm, will 1998 waterside industrial dispute, and an inspection of the Wharfies' Mural panel (at about 7 pm). At least one of the artists, Clem Millwood, is expected to attend. The unveiling of the Wharfies Mural also marks the launch of the MUA Laborfest being held in conjunction with the National Conference and 10th anniversary of the Patrick lockout. Alongside the mural, the Sydney Theatre Company will present moved readings from Harbour by Katherine Thompson on the Patrick dispute.
Media information: Bill Richards, Australian National Maritime Museum, 0418 403 472 Zoe Reynolds, Maritime Union of Australia, 0417 229873
For further information
Public News: You can view MUA's publicly available news in a variety of ways. Please select one of our public news indexes. |
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This page: http://mua.org.au/news/general/mural.html Site proudly designed and engineered by Social Change Online |
© 2001 Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) |
