Up the Gangway part 3

 

In 1984 I transferred my home port from Newcastle to Melbourne. My sister lived in Dandenong and I had many relations in Victoria. I had a house built at Cape Patterson and my aunties and cousins lived in Wonthaggi. Melbourne was a busy port and I did enjoy being there.

Ronald Reagan was US President at the time and the anti war culture was active. Nelson Mandella was still in prison and Margaret Thatcher was governing the United Kingdom. General Augusto Pinochet was torturing civilians and banned Trade Unions in Chile. Sir Joh Bjelkepeterson made sure he was premier of Queensland even though most people didn't vote for him. Peter Garrett failed to become a Senator but he inspired environmentalist everywhere. Bob Hawke was the Australian Prime Minister and universal health care was reinstated. John Cain was the premier of Victoria when the transport Accident Commission was created. I joined MUSA and got to know a lot of other Seafarers that were progressive minded.

The Trade Practices Act had anti union legislation that needed to change. I joined a delegation that went to Canberra to persuade some politicians to make changes. The group I was with seen Ralph Willis in room 121 at the old parliament house. It was the first time I met Bob Carnegie who did most of the talking. He was good.

The legislation went over my head but I decided to read the Navigation act. It was definitely the most boring book I ever read. I could never say I understood it!

People for Nuclear Disarmament got my attention but I never joined. The anti apartheid movement was active and I met some interesting people.

I crossed paths with Stalin admirers, Trotsky admirers, Irish Rebels, Mao admirers, a Devil Worshipper and even a Hitler admirer. Most of those on the left read books and on the right they read the tabloids. The Hitler admirer didn't work in the Maritime Industry. He upset some folks when he said, “all Aborigines should be shot!”

Privatisation and deregulation were terrorising the working class. I attended marches and picket lines to give my support for the union. I protested in front of the South African Airlines in Melbourne. Various left wing organisations, a gang of trendy punks or rent a crowd attended. It was the first time as an adult that I wore a tie and looked respectable. A friendly employer from a nearby building came and had a chat. He was also opposed to apartheid himself and wasn't impressed by the punks. He said he would never employ them!

Roger Wilson was the first union official I met after I got there. Eventually I got to know the others as Burt Nolan retired. Tony Papaconstintinos and Mick Doleman entered the arena which moved to Carlton Street. The same Street as my great grand parents once lived.

Ken MacClelland was another elected Union Official. He represented Marine Cooks in Melbourne before the amalgamation. He became a joint Victorian Secretary of the Seamens Union. On 2 different occasions I heard him telling someone to sack a cook. He never hid the fact that he beat the shit out of a delegate. Another time he gave me a blast over drug use in the galley on board the Abel Tasman. I was not the person to ask!

Tony Papaconstintinos once asked me if I wasn't busy could I hang around. We escorted a BWIU executive to a Communist Party Meeting where he had to speak. He was trying to sell the accord during a turbulent period. It was the only time in my life I attended a meeting of a political party. The woman chairing the meeting amused me wearing red socks.

The Seaway Melbourne was the first job I got from the Melbourne Roster. I relieved a 2nd cook that was on compo and went from Melbourne to Hobart and Sydney. Ringbolts were cruising the Tasman and consuming booze. Early one morning I walked in the crew's lounge and see furniture damaged and a guitar broken in two pieces. I believe somebody thought they were at a Who concert after taking a substance. This was the first time I ever seen a guitar on a ship.

The Mobil Australis was my first permanent job from the Melbourne roster. It was in July 1984 when I joined and returned to assistant cook. I stayed there for about two years and I visited ports in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. This was also the first tanker tanker that I sailed on and I worked with many cooks. There was some personality issues and a cook was removed after taking paternity leave. Some of the blokes were in the Navy with Ken MacClelland and knew him well. They all paid there dues but some were not fond of any left wing politicians.

The first time I had used a non stick pan was on this ship. It was personal property of a cook that made sure it was used properly. Eventually they were ordered to make frying eggs easier. In later years questions were being asked about the safety of Teflon.

Roger Chapman wanted to introduce a Cook and Chill system on ships. I met with him in Sydney where he tried to sell the idea as progressive. We rejected it because of fear of loosing a cook. I remember a Providore (Prior) for ASP supporting our views for the same reason. It was endorsed at monthly union meetings without full details explained. I learned later that some cooks on other ships were in favour of it. The equipment never arrived!

In December 1984 I went on an overseas trip. I visited Los Angeles and Miami before flying to Santo Domingo. I then went to Puerto Rico before flying over the Virgin Islands on my way to Port Of Spain. I stopped at Antigua, Saint Lucia and Barbados.

At the time the West Indies had a great Cricket team. They liked to let me know they were beating Australia. Some would sit up all night and listen to the coverage on the radio. A lot of them spoke in Pidgin English which was hard to understand. The humour was fantastic!

Walking back to the Hotel I noticed a Flying Angel Mission to Seamen. I called in and met the English Padre who was up for a chat. I'd just walked through a Shanty village where the poorest people live. We disgusted poverty, pirates and drugs which was a real problem in Port of Spain. Religion and politics never entered the conversation. It was a pleasure meeting this bloke.

I also visited Havana where I shook hands with a cop. I also drank my first and only Daiquiri although I knew very little about Ernest Hemingway. I loved the old cars and believed I'd one day return.

I managed to visit Tijuana but I left unimpressed. I missed out on Christmas day because I flew back to Sydney on the 24th of December.

In April 1985 I ended up on compo with Bells Palsy. It affected my sight to drive so I hung out in Melbourne. In May I drove my camper to Brisbane and stopped in Dubbo on the way. That is when I met Margaret at the Commercial Hotel.

On Christmas Day in 1985 the Mobil Australis was alongside in Newcastle. A crew change should have taken place for most, but things got out of control. The 2nd cook was due to pay off but went on compo in Sydney. A permanent job became available and no cooks were about. It left us short until they picked up a bloke from Adelaide who flew to Newcastle and joined on Boxing day. We learned later that a waterside watchman in Newcastle tried to get his mate the job. We had a bit of a laugh about it!

The Stewards on the Mobil Australis were a league of nations. One Serb, two Germans, a Dutchman and one time a South American joined. The Serb was a proud Socialist that served under General Tito. One of the Germans was a Jew at birth but his Mother changed him to a Christian. The other German was a member of the 'Free German youth' after the war. There were Irish, English, Scottish, Scandinavian, and a West Indian in other departments. I remember an engineer with a Boxing title that was Fijian. He sailed with my Father on the Macedon.

In 1986 I was a rank and file delegate at a union conference in Sydney. Someone pulled out and Joe Montegue nominated me. At the time I knew nothing about Joe except that he must have admired me. When I joined the Australian Progress I learned he was known as, “the Father of Deck Boys!”

At the conference I caught up with many that cared about the world. Several long serving union officials were about to retire and new faces were emerging. I was introduced to Tas Bull who was a guest. He wrote a book that I'd read called, “Politics in a union.” Concerns about our future was a big talking point. I was impressed by Ken MacLeod's speech. He was the new Federal Secretary of the Stewards Union.

That year I attended the union school at Saint Georges Basin. Some of those that attended became union officials. Ken MacClelland was there and provided outstanding meals. It was after this I noticed he was becoming a menace.

Officials Mick Doleman and Ken Maclelland were approached by ASIO investigators. They were asking questions about MUSA and a report was read at the Melbourne monthly meeting. Tex Boucher stood up and asked, “why didn't you call the police.” Ken spoke to me after the meeting with a quirky grin and said, “I told them all about you!” He did seem authentic but someone told me it was a stunt.

Mikhail Gorbachev took charge of the U.S.S.R. and was being admired abroad. My knowledge was limited but an aura of peace followed him. I was in the fan club!

The Seamens Union had a reputation for being a functional left wing organisation. Anti communist were lurking and Trotsky was being blamed for any trouble. It was confusing so I just made sure never followed the extremist. Socialism was being misinterpreted as some blokes were happy to support Capitalism. To prove it they drank Victorian Bitter!

It was about this time that Bob Hawke said, “Australian Labor Party is the party for Social Democrats.” He also wanted no child to live in poverty. I made my mind up to support humanism but not join a political party.

My education growing up was aided by watching television. Hogans Heroes was one of the sitcoms that in some ways contributed. Colonel Klink was afraid to be sent to the Eastern Front where the Germans were loosing the war. So many of my peers were grateful about the Soviet troops defeating Nazi Germany. I didn't really need to know anything else!

Someone told me Hitler had Syphilis and someone else may have said he was a Dick head. The statistics and events of what happened often changed. One fact that can't be changed is he signed his name to Mein Kamf!

At a rally in Brisbane a group of Trotskyist carrying red flags approached the Seamens Union. They were denigrating Stalin in their chants. I thought it was dumb and provocative. I'd not read anything by Trotsky to be critical of his work. I also didn't know enough about Joseph Stalin. At that time Joh Bjelke-Peterson was Queensland's trouble making premier. I would have been sympathetic if they yelled, “Joh must go!”

The Maritime Industry Development Committee published a booklet in 1986. Re structuring was going to happen and members were concerned. The Union played a big part to save Australian seafaring jobs. “Doom and gloom” was a phrase I would often hear from a few dissent members. I was more scared if a Coalition federal government was elected.

Before joining the Abel Tasman in 1986 I met a cook that got his nose broken by Dave Williams. He was the chief cook that once held a position in the Marine Cooks union. Innuendos may have contributed to the ship also being known as The Love Boat.

When I joined John Higgins was the bosun who went on to become a union official. He was close to Ken MacClelland who was sharing information with Dave Williams.

It was the first time I had worked with so many cooks. One of them was removed because of an alleged prank that happened 6 months earlier. The story changed over time, and some believed the whole thing was a stunt to split the union. I remember delegates protesting his removal because it would set a precedent. The vast majority of blokes weren't bad people and did their job. The worst experience I recall was when a steward let me know that he went to Vietnam to kill socialist. I learned not to talk about politics.

The Abel Tasman was the ferry that serviced Melbourne and Devonport. It was run by a newly formed shipping company that was formed by a Tasmanian Liberal Government. They received funding from a Federal Labor government after the Franklin Dam project failed. The money had to be used to create jobs during the Robin Gray regime. They purchased the ship in Hamberg and a crew flew over there to prepare it for Bass Strait. A bit of drama occurred which drew a lot of media attention. Tasmanian Premier Robin Gray wanted to look tough, so he sent the Police on a mission to Germany. I wasn't there to be a witness, but I was told the boys got the cops a lager and it all got sorted. This was done at taxpayers expense!

The ship crossed Bass Strait 6 nights a week which allowed for a Saturday night in Devonport. I went to the local Disco and watched a steward pass drugs under the brightest light. On the Melbourne side a cook was visited by many that I believe were after drugs. There was a bookmaker that was busy on race day and boardgames were popular. Contributions were made to Camp Quality and I recall a few laughs.

Freemasonry was active on the Able Tasman. One of them once wore his apron in the bar acting like a goat. He may not have done them any favours but most blokes thought it was funny. There were Atheist about and I recall some Catholics that were rubbishing them. I admired their charity work but I decided to never join. I have nothing against them!

I was on this ship when my right hand cramped up scrubbing a pot. The nurse told me I had symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. It just went away on it's own and returned some years later. It can affect you driving a car or other activity.

It was on the Abel Tasman in 1986 when Charmagne Medhurst joined. She was the first known woman to sign on and cook on an Australian merchant ship. I enjoyed working with her and last caught up with her at a peace rally. She should write a book!

It was on five occasions I joined the Abel Tasman. The last time I joined was in 1993 and I remember a remark made behind my back. “Looks like the KGB has arrived!” The bloke sitting with me made me laugh when he said, “Looks like your head don't fit either!”

It really wasn't a bad job but was not suitable for me. I never really got to know any of the executive chefs. Someone told me they all drove a Volvo!

Before joining the Straightsman in 1987 I moved to the chief cooks roster. Ken McClelland wasn't happy about it and demanded to see my accreditation. He reluctantly let me go and after my first voyage as a Chief Cook he bailed me up. He'd been speaking to Roger Chapman and they wanted me to do the next upgrading course. John Higgins was with him and gave me some stern advice about studying.

The course was at Sir William Angliss College in Melbourne. Named after a Butcher and Freemason that became a politician. I agreed and looked forward to benefiting from the course.

At the beginning of the course we met with Roger Chapman and Ken MacClelland. Only 9 members could be rounded up to do the course. They came from all parts of Australia and 8 of us needed accommodation. I wasn't the only one doing an upgrading course for the second time. Early in the course Eddy Conrick warned me to watch my back. He heard Ken MacClelland talking about someone from Newcastle. That was me!

Ken was being a jerk when ever we crossed paths. I did hear from someone say, “in the navy he was known as a henchman.”

We divided into 2 working groups for some reason. One was called the A Team and the other was called F Troupe. I'm not sure what group I belonged to which suited me. Our delegate was an ambitious guy that wanted to be a Providore or Union official. We did some interesting work and nutrition was included. Butchering and Baking were popular subjects. We did classes in 3 different locations in Melbourne.

When I returned from a rally I checked on one of the lads. John Harding assured me he'd be there but hadn't left the motel. I went to his room and knocked and got no answer. The boys had been drinking all day in the courtyard and they hadn't seen him. “Maybe he slipped over in the shower,” was a remark I got with little concern. I went to the reception and rang his room from the desk to get no answer. The management was nervous and gave me a master key before I went to his room. When I opened up the chain was hooked and he was alive and well! I got a good laugh from the tipsy audience. I just forgot about what I had just done but the motel management was grateful.

On the evening before the presentation I received an anonymous phone call. At first I thought it was someone playing a prank using a woman claiming to be from a brothel. “What was I into?” and a giggle was repeated in the conversation. I was cautious but when I put the phone down went to the reception to ask who made the call. One of the boys was at the desk at the time talking to the receptionist. I got a negative answer and I went back to my room. Rudy was in the room next door with a woman from Burnie that was hanging around.

Later I received another call from a real prostitute. All I could say was, “not interested.” When we got together in the morning Rudy asked if I took up that offer. Later Rudy publicly announced that, “Ron rang up a prostitute last night and changed his mind.” I maintained a cool head but snapped at one of the innocent lads.

As we walked into the function I was met by Roger Chapman who advised me that I failed the course. He gave me a reason which was because of my lack of training prior to joining the Union. I didn't loose my job but a can of worms opened up.

When Ken McClelland arrived he seemed surprised that Roger already got to me. Mick Doleman and John Higgins were sitting together but were unaware of what had been going on. I never told my side of the story to anyone and kept quiet. I can live with the fact that I failed!

After the certificates were handed out Ken McClelland got on the microphone to blather. He had a lot to say about me which did him no favours.“He should have never been allowed in the Industry,” was included in his rant. This was done in front of Members, Employer representatives, Staff and Students of the College.

Afterwards I was approached by Stan Wardell who taught Baking at the College. His words were, “You was railroaded by someone in your union who wanted you to fail. You didn't fail!” He went on, “apprentices don't fail.” Some of the boys were supportive. Some of the teachers backed up what Stan had to say. Questions were being asked and Peter Miller was avoiding them. A woman that represented Peter Morris's office caught up with me later. She was appalled by what had gone on. I was also told Roger Chapman wasn't happy with Ken.

I could never confirm if there was collusion between Rudy and Ken in regards to the anonymous phone call. Roger Chapman was not involved but he was getting information from somebody staying in the motel.

Tony Papaconstintinos didn't know I failed. His glasses slid down his nose as if he was surprised. The only thing he heard was the course was a stuff up.

It was winter and I went to Dubbo before I was to return to the Melbourne roster. Ken MacClelland wasn't finished with me. He escorted me to the Desk at the shipping office to make sure I was demoted. That was the last time I had to deal with him before he shifted to Adelaide and replaced Ron Barclay. This allowed for him to stay on the Committee of Management of the Union. He was the last Marine Cook to remain as an official.

After I did the course a report was published in the Seamens Journal. Rudy Raats put his name to it which mentioned,“one failed.” It may have been liable but I didn't get any professional advice. A few months later I caught up with Rudy on the Australian Progress. He claimed it was co written by Roger Chapman. I doubted that was true!

There were groups at the time trying to split the union. It was no secret that some members didn't support the amalgamation with Stewards which was on the agenda. Members supporting company employment may have been more secretive. The bourgeoisie opportunists were enjoying it!

The Australian Progress was my next maritime adventure to Japan. In July 1987 I signed on and stayed permanently employed there until the end of January in 1989. When on my leave I would spend my time in Dubbo and make use of my Nissan camper-van. I eventually sold it and bought bought a block of land in Forster.

Ideas began to spoil my brain as my future in the Maritime Industry didn't seem great. Running a Motel, Cafe or driving a Taxi wasn't impossible. Living at Cape Patterson was not likely to happen. Nobody wanted to rent my house but the market was looking good for a sale. I had to make a decision but I never sold my motorbike. I borrowed money for the land and was aiming to pay it off whilst I had permanent employment.

Margaret started doing a clerical course to secure her future. I was getting to know her father Cliff who ran a Caravan Park in Dubbo. It was attracting drama that I was not comfortable with at the time. Although, he was experienced and qualified to get advice from. Those dramas did put those dreams on hold. I also remember hearing somebody saying to me, “99 percent of businesses go broke!”

Learning to speak Japanese or French was on my agenda so I bought a Berlitz tape. My Sony walk-man came in handy which was also good for listening to the Scorpions. Many years earlier I went on a training flight at Aero Pelican. It was an expensive course that I never through with. When I was hanging out in Dubbo I thought about it again because I believe it was cheaper there. My Ricoh KR5 camera was my favourite toy I had since before I entered the industry. It was an interest but I was only an amateur. I made an enquiry to Dennis Braybrook after hearing they were short of Rugby League Referee's. If I gave up going to sea this would have been a great challenge. I was in my late twenties with heaps of options. However, my priority was to stay focussed on doing my job as a cook. That's what gave me my income!

My previous job was on the Straitsman where I got my first Chief Cooks discharge. It would run between Melbourne and King Island in Tasmania. In 1974 it made headlines when it sank in the Yarra River. The Seaway Melbourne, Abel Tasman, and Mobil Australis were the other ships I'd worked on after leaving the Pioneer. Cairns, Mackay, Gladstone, Brisbane, Bega, Devonport, Burnie, Hobart, Portland, Adelaide, and Port Lincoln were ports of call. Sydney, Newcastle and Melbourne were more frequently visited.

The Progress was also a bulk carrier that was bigger than the Pioneer. They both carried Iron ore from Port Walcott, Port Hedland, or Koolan Island to Japan. Coal was loaded in Hay point and Newcastle where the Australian Progress became the first ever 'P boat' to enter the Hunter.

Both ships had spacious accommodation with a pool and Gym. The Galley's were large with plenty of equipment but they had no air conditioning. The Pioneer fridges were nearby and on the same deck as the galley. On the Progress they were a deck below with stairs and a dumb waiter. They were big jobs and when it came to loading stores the whole catering department including Peggy's would work and live the moment.

A few tons of frozen meat, fish, vegetables, fresh fruit, dry stores, bread, beer, milk and eggs to last a month or longer. Loading from the truck to the accommodation was sometimes made difficult due to malfunctions, weather and tides.

On the Progress we had one of those days in the tropics at Hay Point. The pallets of food arrived up forehead and had to be wheeled on a trolley nearly 200 meters before being stacked away. Coal dust was everywhere and the chief cook Tony was covered in it. You could only recognise him because of the sweat cleaning his face and dripping on to his white T-shirt which was now black. He always wore white shorts and occasionally a cap with the Whyalla Gun club logo. His sense of humour came in handy that day and I think we needed it!

Normally we'd prepare lunch when loading stores and in some ports they hired Painters and Dockers which were always handy. On that day the Captain seen what was going on and cancelled the evening meal and paid us all victualling allowance. We went to a Mackay Chinese restaurant that night and enjoyed ourselves.

Tony was from Whyalla and previously worked as a Tradesmen’s Assistant at the shipyard. He worked alongside Lloyd O'Neil who became his local Federal Member of Parliament. The best way to describe Tony was that he was a good bloke.

Alcohol and Drugs were a problem on both ships. Grog was sold at a duty free price and you could drink as much as you like. Some blokes took advantage of this bargain and it affected their ability to work. I did hear of someone consuming more than a case of beer each day and I knew someone that died from Potomania. It wasn't uncommon to get a bunch of Teetotallers and some could tell a great story. I remember a Welsh Crew Attendant on the Pioneer that had been in a life boat after being sunk by a U boat. He was a proud Communist that looked forward to going home to his pet dog called Spot.

Critics of the union were starting to speak out. On the Progress I sailed with a Cook that wanted to see Stewards removed from ships. I'd known him since 1982 and he was a delegate at the last course I did in Melbourne. He'd rant about wanting to be a union official or providore. He was opposed to the amalgamation between the Seamen and Stewards Unions. When I flew home after that same voyage I was talking to different crew member that said, “If the amalgamation with Stewards is successful I'm going to go out of my way to destroy the union.” In 1988 the majority of members including myself voted in favour to amalgamate!

The worst bit of Drama occurred on the Progress after a Deck Boy stole a Taxi in Japan. We got together afterwards for an explanation and I witnessed his lack of empathy and arrogance. When a delegate asked him to thank us for helping him out. The young lad stood up, approached the bloke and loudly retaliated, “You get fucked.”

He remained employed to pay for the damages which I believe came out of his pay. On return to Japan we were woken up in the middle of a night when the alarm went off. A fire in the paint locker was lit deliberately and this Deck Boy alerted the bridge. He was first on the scene and may have extinguished the blaze. I remember the young 3rd mate having a breakdown at the muster trying to follow procedure. A Steward slept through the event and the next day gave a vociferous report to the captain. We were all shown the melted bucket with a burnt match that was discovered afterwards. We had a Christian crew member that got involved to give the lad support. He praised him for saving our lives which created a Rhubarb. Most of us doubted the Deck Boys innocence.