Up the Gangway (part1)
The Iron Bogong was my first engagement in the Maritime Industry. I walked up the gangway on the 28th of July 1980 and signed on as a relieving assistant cook. I didn't know much and I was about to learn how to peel spuds with a boot knife. Alan Mckeown was the chief cook that had to put up with me. I couldn't have had a better introduction to the industry. A Novocastrian catholic that went to mass and had been sober for 5 years. He knew my father, and my neighbour Joe Blatchford. He was the first person I recall to mention Paul Keating. The Iron Hunter was the 2nd ship I joined and my first permanent job on the coast. Sister ship to the Iron Bogong which was older and in better condition. They were bulk carriers that were built in Whyalla, South Australia. I'd circumnavigated Australia on the Iron Hunter and Cockatoo Island, Port Hedland, Kwinanna, Port Kembla and Newcastle were ports of call. Both ships had a crew of about 44 that included 3 cooks. As an assistant coo...