A Maritime Union Story

 

The CFMEU are in the news for the wrong reason again. I’ve not been following what's going on but I know there must be more to the story than what I've been hearing.

I was a member of the Textile Workers Union, Federated Liquor and Allied Industries Employees' Union, and the Federated Ironworker’s Association before I entered the Maritime Industry.

When I entered the Maritime Industry I joined the Marine Cooks, Bakers and Butchers' Association of Australia. In 1983 we amalgamated with the Seamen's Union of Australia and in 1988 amalgamated with the Federated Marine Stewards' and Pantrymen's Association of Australasia. In 1991 we amalgamated with the Professional Diver's Association and in 1993 we amalgamated with the Waterside Workers' Federation to become the Maritime Union of Australia. Also known as the MUA!

In 1999 I resigned from the union and no longer worked for an employer. I had some health issues at the time plus I was involved in a court case that lasted about 14 years. I met a lot of Barristers and was examined by Surgeons, Psychiatrists, Physicians, Neurologists and other professionals. That's another story!

I cooked on about 20 ships from 1980 to 1999 when I was in the Maritime Industry. I shipped out of Newcastle and Melbourne before transferring to Sydney.

My dealings with the union were excellent at times, but poor in the end. The first Marine Cooks union official I dealt with was the Newcastle branch secretary. He was a Roman Catholic that went to mass every Sunday. The first union activist I got to meet were supporters of the anti apartheid and peace movement. I looked forward to joining the Seamen's Union and voted yes to all of the amalgamations. A minority voted no and I had run into trouble makers who would love to destroy the camaraderie.

When I first shipped out, Bill Heath was our federal secretary. I'd met him but never got to know him that well. My father sailed with him and he had positive things to say. After a cooks meeting in Sydney, we went to the Central Markets Hotel for refreshments and a chat. I was with my father when he caught up with our union's president Lester Murphy. After a few beers Dad had some kind things to say about Bill Heath. He believed he was unfairly challenged in the union election. Lester Murphy proudly boasted, “I got rid off Bill Heath.”

Roger Chapman was voted federal secretary of the Marine Cooks Union before we amalgamated with the Seamen’s Union. He assaulted the Sydney port secretary George Crooks after he settled in to the job. I never voted for Chapman even though he was always pleasant.

When I transferred to Melbourne I met Roger Wilson. I never got to know him but he was a Communist Party member and union official. Bert Nolan and Ken McClelland were joint state secretaries. I joined MUSA which did me a lot of good and I got to know a lot of Trade Unionist.

Bert Nolan retired and there was a branch transformation and a bun fight. Tony Papaconstantinos ended up replacing Bert and Mick Doleman joined the team as assistant secretary. Ken McClelland remained in his role on the Committee of Management.

Times were changing and Bob Hawke became prime minister. The Accord seemed like a progressive idea but some workers didn't like it. Demarcation disputes were to be a thing of the past!

The Melbourne Painters and Dockers would sometimes help us load stores. They worked hard and enjoyed a good laugh. According to the media they were being investigated and they had T-shirts for sale to prove it. The union vanished in 1993 and I believe some ended up in the MUA.

A band was formed called The Painters and Dockers but there was no affiliation. They did original songs about Safe Sex and Lobby Lloyd produced an album worth collecting. They released a song, “Die Yuppie Die.”

Norm Gallagher and the Builders Labourers were also in the media. A lot of trade unionist were distancing themselves from extremism and Norm eventually went to prison. I did remember a senior member saying, “The Eureka Flag does not belong to them!”

The BWIU were a union representing Carpenters and Bricklayers. I remember being introduced to Tom McDonald in Melbourne and then walked him to a meeting. I didn't know he was head of the BWIU and there was a lot going on at the time. He was an interesting bloke and a gentleman that did a lot of good work. I also got to meet Pat Clancy when he tutored at Saint Georges Basin before he died. He also did a lot of good work.

Although I wasn't a good reader, I did manage to read some biographies. The Life and Times of Paddy Troy by Stuart Macintyre was one of them. I never knew him but I knew blokes that did.

Tas Bull wrote wrote 2 books that I read. I remember being introduced to him at a conference in Sydney. He took over from Charlie Fitzgibbon to lead the Wharfies.

Stan Moran also wrote a book and my next door neighbour who managed the Swansea Workers Club was associated with him. His book was called Reminiscence of a Rebel.

Rupert Lockwood was an excellent journalist. He wrote about Jim Healy and about the Dalfram dispute in 1938. I read his book called “War on the Waterfront.”

The History of the Seamen’s Union by Rowan Cahill was an important read. I also read the Navigation Act which went over my head. I did understand section 132.

I knew a cook that regularly stated, “he knew the Navigation Act.” He wasn't a bad bloke but I never seen him read anything.

In 1987 I failed an upgrading course at Sir William Angliss college in Melbourne. One of the senior teachers said to me, “I was railroaded by someone in my union.”

Ken McClelland identified himself as the likely candidate after the course. He used the public address system at the function to announce that I failed. This was witnessed by teachers, students, public servants, union officials and members. John Higgins and Mick Doleman were present. The worse thing he could have said was. “I should have never been allowed in the industry.”

After the incident a woman that worked with Peter Morris came to my aid. Some of the members weren't happy and Dave Williams name came up in a discussion. Roger Chapman was also present and I believe he was not happy with Ken.

My Father once warned me that he had a lot of enemies. A few decades back he had a major falling out with James Tudehope who was was Federal Secretary of the Marine Cooks. In those days Dad was drinking with Barney Smith of the Seamen’s Union. This was before the unpopular DLP was formed. My father wasn't a bloke you think would have enemies. He called a spade a spade and he could be generous. He was once a combat soldier in New Guinea and a Communist party member before 1958. That may explain!

One of the delegates doing the course was Rudy Raats. I'd known him since doing a previous upgrading course in 1982. He was speaking out against the amalgamation. He was critical of a lot of union policy and stayed away from a left wing rally. He wanted to be a union official and sent the report to the Journal. I caught up with him months later and asked him about it, but he claimed Roger Chapman wrote it. I knew that wasn't true!

On the last night of the course I received an anonymous phone call. The woman claimed to be a prostitute and she giggled. At the time I believed it was a prank but later in the night I received another call from a Madam who thought the request was odd. I wasn't interested!

The next morning Rudy was in great form exposing himself as the culprit behind the phone calls.

The woman in the first call was staying with Rudy. She was from Burnie in Tasmania and she may have believed it was a joke. I was told years later that some of these women had links to the Tasmanian Liberal party.

When I returned to the roster I was demoted by McClelland who continued to be antagonistic. The clerk at the shipping office seemed to hesitate at first, but he could see I wasn't reluctant. I could still ship out as a 2nd cook which I wasn't worried about. I was trying to avoid the Abel Tasman and the Australian Progress came up. This is was what I needed!

Ken McClelland had been at odds with me since we did the course at Saint Georges Basin. Before I met him I was told he was good at his job. When I first got to know him I had plenty of respect for him until he admitted he beat the shit out of a rank and file member. A cook from Tasmania warned me about him before I over heard him talking to Dave Williams. McClelland once confronted me in a pugnacious manner about drugs in the galley on the Abel Tasman. I was not the one to ask!

When we began to do the course one of the cooks remembered McClelland from the Navy. “He was a henchman and I couldn't believe it when I found out he was a union official.”

After 6 years in the industry I had met most of the Seamen's Union officials. I couldn't say that I knew them well but they had my support. Pat Geraghty was the Federal Secretary and contributed to educating members at Saint Georges basin. Some of the Rank and File were staunch trade unionist and many of them read books.

The Australian Progress was my second experience on a P Boat sailing to Japan. I stayed there for nearly 2 years and cooked 2 Christmas dinners. I worked with six different chief cooks and one of them paid off on compo in Japan. I had to upgrade for a couple of weeks until a relief arrived.

There was a lot of drama on this ship. On one trip somebody deliberately lit a fire when we were in the Philippine sea. Another time a Deck Boy stole a taxi in Japan before he stood over a union delegate. On a different voyage five of the crew members were put ashore in Davao City with illness and injury.

There was a time when I re-joined in Newcastle and the ship was without a chief cook. I had to speak to Ken McLeod who was now joint federal secretary of the union. The year was 1988 and the stewards amalgamation was a success. Ken directed me to provide a meal.

The rules had changed which outraged some crew members. In the past the 2nd cook couldn't work without supervision of a chief, and the crew would get paid victualling money. I had been in the industry for eight years and done 2 retraining courses. I also had a chief cooks discharge. I didn't protest and was prepared to cook breakfast the next morning.

That evening an assistant steward visited another ship for an unofficial meeting at the bar. In the morning I was told their chief cook is going to wonder over to give me advice. He walked into the galley in shorts exposing the crack in his bum and lit a cigarette. He never said a word and left.

Laurie Steen was now the Newcastle port secretary and was nowhere to be found. He turned up just before we were due to sail for Japan. Somebody said he was busy playing golf!

Ken McLeod was an admired official. He was the Victorian branch secretary of the Stewards when he successfully contested the federal position. He promoted the amalgamation with the Seamen's Union and it all happened. I met him a couple of times and at the 1986 COM Reps after he made a good speech. If I was a Steward I would have voted for him.

In 1988 Ken McClelland moved to Adelaide and became the South Australian branch secretary of the union. It was good for the amalgamation because it kept a cook on the committee of management. It was also good for me because I shouldn't have to deal with him again. Although, I did run into him in Sydney a few years later. I don't recall if anyone ever stood against him.

After failing the course at William Angliss College I considered leaving the industry. My future father in law had a caravan park and I had dreams of going into a motel. I also thought about writing a book and had some hand written notes that eventually went missing. One of my theories behind failing the course was to destroy the amalgamation with the stewards. Another theory was that I really failed!

Sometimes I took minutes during the shipboard union meetings. In 1987 I wrote to Roger Chapman about the dangers of aluminium cookware used in the galley. I did mention it should be bought up with the committee of Management. I believe the banning of aluminium cookware became a union policy.

Nobody ever taught me how to do minutes and I knew nothing about shorthand. I don't believe I was a good at the job but I tried my best. Some blokes were inspirational writers and I came across a few scary moments during my career. There was a member in Melbourne that considered himself to be an intellectual and he always volunteered to do minutes. I witnessed an incident on the Bass Reefer before he wrote the minutes. A truck driver was verbally told to leave our recreational space. He was being arrogant and did move on. By the time it got to the minutes it was written and signed that he was physically removed from the room. If the minutes found their way into the wrong person we could have been in serious trouble.

When I was on the Abel Tasman in the early days the cooks had there own minute book. This was about 3 years after the successful amalgamation. In later years I was told that someone threw it over the side because they believed it was illegal.

Most of the crew that I sailed with were good people. One memorable moment on the Australian Progress happened on the day Japanese Emperor Hirohito died. The Bosun went to lower the flag and he run into an angry crew attendant that wouldn't let him near it. We had a pilot on board and we were heading to Kawasaki. The flag was eventually lowered after I heard plenty of negative things said about the deceased Japanese Emperor. The Crew Attendant was in New Guinea during the second world war.

I sold my camper van and I bought a block of land in Forster. I was spending my time in Dubbo and the Australian Progress kept away from urban life. I did plan to attend a stop work meeting in Melbourne but I had an accident instead.

In 1989 I was injured in a traffic accident and spent 10 days on life support. I had pneumonia and was non weight bearing for 8 months and my employment was terminated. I was not at fault!

I had a blood transfusion, broken bones, a collapsed lung and I couldn't speak. I was in the Austin Hospital in Melbourne and my parents made the trip from Newcastle. My father was quick to visit the union rooms which were in the same street that his grand parents once lived in. “I've seen the union and don't worry because they'll look after you.”

I never told my father the story about what happened at William Angliss. He never told me much about what happened in New Guinea. I know that 118 soldiers from his battalion died!

As I began to heal I caught a taxi from the hospital to speak to union officials. I was on opioid medication and worried I'd loose my livelihood. Years later I was asked by a solicitor, “Why didn't they get Holding and Redlich law firm?”

There were paranoias and I never had any real counselling. The first social worker I dealt with was okay and had confidence in my union. The 2nd social worker I dealt with told me to stay away from legal advice and said. “They'll reef your claim.”

After my employment was terminated I applied for sickness benefits. This kept me going until I returned to work in 1990. I dealt with a solicitor with a Victorian license who eventually had a breakdown. The firm sent me a bill which made me go to McNallies in Sydney. Vince Bruce was handling my application but he also had a breakdown. My case was passed on to John Zigouras in Melbourne and things began to move.

I had to return to work before 12 months expired otherwise I'd need to pass a medical. Although it was a stupid decision to return to work but it somehow helped my mental situation. Eventually the rules changed and I had to be examined every two years whilst employed.

I looked into learning Japanese and there was a short course being advertised in Dubbo. I was struggling and was not up to studying. It would have been much easier for me to return to cooking!

When I returned to work I joined the Australian Exporter in Melbourne. The ship was on it's way to the Philippines and I struggled with the weight of a bag of onions. I seen a doctor in Brisbane and bailed out. It took me a few more months before I was ready again.

It was on the Esso Gippsland was where I got my confidence back. Sam Perry was the chief cook and he looked after me. I already knew Max Woods who was in the crew and Johnny O'Loughlin joined as Chief Steward. We'd sometimes anchor in Port Philip Bay which was comfortable. The ship changed it's name to Mawson before the contract expired.

The Bass Reefer was not such a comfortable Job. The 2nd cook made bunks for up to 12 passengers and we went into some rough sea. The crew were great and we got to know a lot of Wharf labourers and Truck drivers. When I picked the job up Dick Ryan told me that it's the easiest job on the coast. That was the first time that I ever met him. He must have been pulling my leg!

When I rang John Higgins in good faith as I was considering throwing my hand in I was told, “if you do that you may never get another job in this industry.”

He went on to explain that Dick has to go out of his way to find a replacement. I didn't explain that someone in the crew had a cook from Tasmania lined up for the job. I was struggling with pain and difficulty with making the bunks. Later on I was to learn that no cook wanted the job. It was possible that I was having my leg pulled again.

My next encounter with Dick Ryan was at a BBQ when he took a soft drink from my hand and asked me to leave. One of the lads stood up in protest before Dick asked to see my union book. All was fine and I stayed.

The Bass Reefer ceased to operate in mid 1992. It turns out somebody didn't pay the bills so the sheriff made an arrest and a pen pusher in the Bahamas gave the ship a new identity so it could do a runner. Although out of work, I had nothing to worry about because of the Seamen’s Engagement centre existed in those days. I signed off on the 19th of June 1992 and arrived home the next day when I turned 32.

I got married earlier that year on Robert Burns birthday. We had a house built in Geurie and Margaret gave birth to Bridget in October. I was on top of the world but I had pain and other health issues. I had a Mortgage with Westpac which was good until they changed the rules. RAMS (were endorsed by the SRF) came to my rescue before I started to struggle financially. The Home Lending Authority helped me out and put a Caveat on my home. I eventually caught up!

Doctor Parsons in Melbourne sent me for an ECG after I had heart palpitations. This is when I stopped taking Sudafed. I then joined the Abel Tasman on the 26th of August 1992. I developed an infection with a tooth ache and I was working with too many cooks. The executive chef made a comment behind my back without saying hello. “Looks like the KGB has arrived.” The crew member that I was having coffee with at the time laughed and said to me, “it looks like your head don't fit neither.”

My infection got worse and I needed to got to the Doctors. The Executive Chef told me, “I'd be in trouble with the union if I go to the doctor.” I still went to the doctor who said, “Because I was permanently employed and not relieving it was company policy to send me back to work.” He prescribed me medication and asked me to rest. I quit and was lectured by my relief about short term engagements. He may have missed out on a job in the offshore industry. Later I went to a Dentist and had my tooth pulled before going to pay my dues. Dick Ryan served me and he could see I wasn't looking the best. I never told him about the drama on board. He did show some empathy!

I joined the Abel Tasman only one more time after I transferred to Sydney. I managed to complete my 28 days and I don't recall much drama. It was the only ship I'd sailed on that had an Executive Chef instead of chief cook. Their was an al a carte restaurant for some passengers and you were alongside every day in Melbourne or Devonport. All of the executive chefs drove a Volvo!

The KGB was a label that someone gave me when I shipped out of Melbourne. I believe it originated on the Abel Tasman when I was once a delegate. It was first raised to me by a deck hand on the Bass Reefer. He run into someone in Hobart that remembered me and the beans were spilled. The deck hand was supportive of me and I didn't believe I had anything to worry about.

The Pacific Titan was the first job I picked up after I transferred to Sydney. It was about a week before Christmas and I joined in Bass Strait by helicopter. The crew were all from Western Australia and I got along well with them. There was no alcohol consumed except for Christmas day and there were no drugs. After we paid off there may have been some drama in the bar at the airport. The marine crew were all in the coffee shop looking forward to going home. A group of the seismic gang were quite pissed after just a couple of beers. I never witnessed any trouble but a story got out of hand and no arrests were made.

I only managed to have two weeks off before I joined the Express as a chief cook. The ship had been sailing without a cook and the deep fryer was smoking when I arrived. We went to Lyttleton in New Zealand and I visited Christchurch.

I relieved on the Lindsay Clarke after Paul Keating won the 1993 federal election. On the 30th of June I joined the Abel Tasman from the Sydney Pick Up. The MUA was born on the next day when I was in Tasmania.

The North West Sanderling was my next engagement in August. I flew to Karratha in Western Australia and had issues with my ears due to the flight. The ship was a very comfortable LNG tanker that sailed from point Samson to Kure in Japan. The chief cook introduced me to Gnocchi and I got to visit Hiroshima again. The engagement was a little over a month, and I paid off the day after Brisbane beat St George in the 1993 grand final.

The Iron Prince took me to Tauranga in New Zealand’s North Island. I joined in Bell Bay and we spent time in Newcastle, Port Kembla, Ardrossan and Thevenard.

Their was some drama after learning we were not getting any Lobster with the Christmas order. We fronted the Captain to learn the Chief Steward was concerned about the budget and believed it was too expensive. The Captain and BHP didn't have any issues and approved the order before I paid off on the 21st of December in 1993. I had knee pain but decided not to go to the Doctor and reserved my rights under section 132 of the Navigation act. I wasn't expecting to be relieved but it happened and I spent Christmas with my family.

The Canopus was my forth time as a chief cook and my forth time on a tanker. We sailed to the Persian Gulf from Sydney in 1994. I was offered the permanent chief cooks job after the manning had been reduced. I declined because I was due for surgery in May. I paid off and went on sickness benefits again before returning to the roster as 2nd cook. When I returned there was no work and received only appearance money which was less than Social Security benefits. I had to find accommodation and my Mastercard came in Handy. None of the expenses including the Pasta dinners could be claimed on tax.

The Aurora Australis was a permanent job that took me to Antarctica. I had to have a special medical which I was able to pass. It was the first time I baked bread myself and I went up to Mount Henderson with the crew. I played scrabble with Tim Bowden and went on my 3rd Helicopter ride. My pain was playing up and after a conversation with Doctor Peter Gormley I thought it was best not to return to that ship. Although hard work, It was a fabulous adventure!

It was at a stop work meeting in Newcastle when I first heard about Chris Caine. He was challenging the union rules and he had supporters. I was not impressed when I received a leaflet in the mail that began with, “I will not apologise!”

As the years moved on he ended up becoming the Fremantle branch secretary. I never got to meet him but I sailed with a delegate that knew him well. Ian Bray was on the Aurora Australis before becoming an official. I had no issues with him.

The Iron Shortland was a bulk carrier that I picked up in November 1995. I was a relieving 2nd cook and got along with everyone and was at sea for Christmas. I became the Union's minute secretary and seen nothing in the book about stolen money and a stabbing that happened on a previous voyage. Nothing about the Cook that broke a bone in his foot kicking someone in the head when he was stoned on hash. Nothing about the same Cook that went to the Doctor's and threatened to report the Doctor to the Union if he was sent home on Compo. None of this must have happened then!

I paid off the Iron Shortland on the 19th of January 1996 in Port Kembla after complaining of unusual pain in my back. I was examined by the doctor who diagnosed me with Sacroiliac strain and Gall Stones.

I was visiting Melbourne in the late nineties, and it was convenient to pay my dues there. The rooms were now in Ireland Street after the successful amalgamation. The internet was now functioning but there was still some teething. The girl at the desk asked for my details and then told me that I hadn't paid my last quarter. I showed her my book with receipts to prove that she was wrong. She eventually took my cheque and stamped my book. I never made an issue and just moved on.

Women were now entering the industry and I'd sailed with some of them. They did there job and I don't recall any issues. I was on the Abel Tasman in 1986 when Charmagne Medhurst joined the industry. She was the first known woman to sign on as a cook on an Australian merchant ship. I enjoyed working with her and last caught up with her at a peace rally. I also sailed with her father on the Esso Gippsland. She should write a book!

The MUA headquarters were in Sussex Street in Sydney. The Waterside Workers Credit Union was on the ground floor in the same building. They were so helpful when I borrowed money from them to pay a solicitors bill. One time near the entrance I bumped into John Higgins, Ken MacLeod, Gary Ihnen and Ken McClelland. They just left a meeting and I wasn't aware about the division among the National Council at the time. We had a brief conversation before I headed in a different direction.

My last ship was the Australian Star which changed it's name to the Broadwater. I spent over 3 years as chief cook and prepared 2 Christmas Dinners. Before I joined, the cook got a 3 percent pay rise and the workload increased by 100 percent. The shipping company didn't upgrade equipment and were unreasonable to deal with. John Howard became prime minister just after I joined which made things worse. A lot of rules were changing and I was finding the workload too difficult for what my injured body had been through.

In 1996 the ship spent about 30 days in a Singapore dry-dock. We lived on board which meant we had to deal with the noise and inconveniences. This saved the company an accommodation bill and more. The crew got on well and some of the lads became acquainted with the crew of an Indonesian ship in the dock. They had a satellite TV and allowed us to watch Manly beat Saint George in the 1996 Grand Final. Afterwards they decided to organise a friendly soccer game which I didn't take part in. The humidity seemed to affect my lower back and I'd not long had Gall Bladder surgery. I got to sit in the grand stand and watched Australia defeat Indonesia!

A caterer injured his shoulder which had to be operated on. He was told to rest for a few weeks but the ships captain made a request to the doctor in Singapore to send him back to work. The doctor listened but thought it was best to send him home. The company wouldn't send a relief until after I decided to see a doctor. We kept in touch with the Brisbane branch and I was sent for an examination and X-ray. My sacroiliac joint was inflamed and I was ordered to rest for 24 hours. They had to send a relieving caterer who appreciated getting the work.

The ship left dry dock without repairing the ships phones. We travelled through an area where pirates are known to invade ships. Our concerns fell on death ears before we arrived in Brisbane on Melbourne Cup day. Bob Carnegie came to see us when Company yes men in uniforms were causing trouble.

To my knowledge there was no food poisoning cases in my 19 year seagoing career. It's easy to avoid if food is handled correctly and practice, “when in doubt throw it out principals.” I give credit to union policy and never serving Bubble and Squeak. I did hear some weird stories that have faded in my ageing memory. I may have been prone to diarrhoea after taking antibiotics at times after my injury. I never made any complaints!

Nutrition and health was often being discussed among the crew. I had many books on the subject and considered it important. Just before I left the industry I replied to a report that recommended eggs be served only twice a week. I think I had enough!

The waterfront dispute was a conspiracy that people had trouble comprehending. Scabs stole the livelihoods of wharf labourers after the stevedoring company locked out there employees. Some of us joined the picket line in Port Botany to witness the suffering of blokes who were not receiving wages. Some in the media were supportive but the coalition government wasn't.

Alcohol consumption at sea varied when I was in the industry. A bloke was put ashore with Delirium Tremens when I was on the Iron Hunter, and on the Iron Prince a bloke was put ashore in a Straitjacket. I remembered a cook that told a doctor he was being eaten by Cockroaches. He had a drinking problem!

Before I had my injury there were blokes that drank a case of beer a day. I knew a member that was hospitalised and died from Potomania. One time I'd seen furniture damaged and a guitar that had been smashed into pieces. I believe somebody thought they were at a Who concert after drinking or taking a substance. This was the first time I had ever seen a guitar on a ship.

After I had my injury there was less alcohol consumption but illegal drugs were sneaking into the lives of seafarers. When I was on the Abel Tasman a cook was being frequently visited in Melbourne. I suspected he was in the dope business and I heard he got busted. On my last ship there were two blokes involved in supplying drugs.

A former cook visited the ship in Brisbane after the waterfront dispute. I believe he was diagnosed with Bi Polar and was now working as a security guard. He delivered a filled jiffy bag and was a friend of one of the drug suppliers. I'd known this former cook for many years and he was often stoned. He knew about the scuffle that took place in the federal office which wasn't a secret. He also told us that the union was under was investigation over money taken from a safety deposit box. The information came from someone in his gun club that was a Commonwealth cop. I never read a story that turned up in a Sunday tabloid but it wasn't good. Les Motto's name was mentioned and was said to have links with the Neddy Smith, Malcolm Kerr and the Liberal party.

If this former cook was right we would have heard a lot more about his serious allegations. I found people using weed can be like stool pigeons. They can also be delusional and paranoid.

Not long after I joined the industry we had a visit from someone called Spider. He wanted to get away to sea and had experience cooking in the Army. My father worked with his uncle when they built the Wangi power station. We introduced him to the right people before he ended up on the Iron Cumberland. About a year later he bashed his mate and assaulted a girlfriend. The last time I ever seen him he supplied drugs in the Entrance Hotel under the nose of the publican. I was not impressed!

A few years later I run into a cook in Melbourne that relieved him. I ended up having an argument with this cook that claimed Spider was my cousin. That was absolutely not true!

My own situation with prescribed medications was not a major problem. A bloke told me he was using cannabis and seeing a psychiatrist. I know he had a history of broken bones to be empathetic. I can remember taking Panadeine forte, Aspalgin, Ventolin, Temazepam, Sudafed, and Prednisone when I was working. I also took antibiotics when I was on sickness benefits. It was all legal and I had issues with sleep, body rashes and constipation. I've always gone through a doctor and have no faith in moonlighting businessmen with fake solutions. They are as bad as telemarketers.

The last 2 stop work meeting I attended were quite divided. Rumours were spreading that the union sold out and I heard their were Lieutenants were on every ship. I did see leaflets promoting the Confederate Action Party before One Nation came on the scene. I did wonder if it was a joke, but some members were admiring Pauline Hanson. This was aided by blokes listening to Ron Casey on 2GB radio at the time.

Documents were being sent to ships by officials that confirmed there was trouble in high places. One of them didn't make sense but it was about Sewer Rats infiltrating the Brisbane branch. Tony Papaconstantinos sent another one when he had a falling out with Mick Doleman over the rules. Tony was joint federal secretary of the union until we lost the Seamen’s engagement centre early in 1999. He resigned in protest and Paddy Crumlin replaced him.

There were serious groups getting around that were very critical of the union. Central Unity was one that I remember, and they didn't hide behind masks. The Rank and File was another one that may have had connections to the Green Left. I did hear about a Brotherhood that existed in Melbourne, and they probably did. The Purple Circle may have been a myth but it created a belief that elites were making sure they got the right jobs. I don't recall seeing any Communists, but Socialism was either mentioned or misinterpreted.

The last time I visited the pub in Sussex Street I was in the company of blokes that I didn't know well. They had run out of Journals which was now being called, “The Women’s Weekly.” They were discussing a cook that spent $400 a fortnight on Hash. I heard about another bloke that spent $5,000 a week on his cocaine habit. I don't believe he worked in the industry or was a union member. It was also mentioned that a former union official had a Bar in the Philippines.

Ross McCallum walked in this pub one time on his way to see a union official. I'd sailed with him on the Aurora Australis, and he always had a great story to tell. Anybody that was a fan of the X files which was on TV in those days would love talking to Ross. He was a member of the ALP and he had no time for gangsters. Neither did I!

There was a call to make crews all from the same home port. I never liked this idea, just like I didn't like company employment. I was also not comfortable with the idea of televisions in cabins. Technology was changing and we all had different opinions and theories. It was getting a bit too much for the humble trade unionist!

After I waked down the gangway in 1999 for the last time, I had some sour moments. It was the year my father died and the year that NATO bombed Yugoslavia. I went to my last union rally, and I started to lose contact with former ship mates. I was on sickness benefits and decided to apply for the DSP. The commonwealth doctor examined me and approved my application. I could not see myself running a business or working in a pub. The twentieth century came to an end before I ended up with another hernia. John Howard was re-elected prime minister and introduced the GST after he said he wouldn't. We sold our house in Geurie and then moved to Smiths Lake. It was great to be living near the ocean again and we got a computer. I bumped into Tim Bowden again who lived not far away at Boomerang Beach. He was always up for a chat!

The Post Office at Krambach was for sale in 2002 and we had soft thoughts about buying it. Margaret also qualified for DSP a few years later after some battles with her health. We both did some community work and I ended up on a few different Committees. I was successful with my 14 year battle with the insurance company which was a relief. I'm pleased I didn't go into business!

When Simon Crean was the ALP leader he was admired and wanted to make some changes. There was a lot going on in my life at the time but I thought he made sense. My solicitor at the time was a Labor candidate that was always unsuccessful in a conservative seat. I was never a member of the Labor party, but I listened and gave them a donation. At the time the ALP rejected Simon and replaced him with Mark Latham. This wasn't a good idea!

Andrew Ferguson impressed me when he was being interviewed on television. This was many years after I left the Maritime industry. He was with the CFMEU and I didn't know much about the organisation at the time. I knew he was from a political family and Tom Uren wrote good things about him. The straighter left!

When a Labor government raised the retirement age to 67 a lot of us were not happy. No action was taken from what I recall, and I do know that some were calling for it to be raised to 70. In France they demonstrated when they proposed to increase it to 64. I finally found something to admire the French for!

Looking back 25 years after I left the Maritime Industry the cost of living is what people are concerned about. My memory plays up sometimes, but I'll keep active which seems to help. I do remember Catherine King said something good in parliament and Dean Summers spoke well about what ever. Mick Doleman was on Television telling the story of the Blythe Star tragedy. Occasionally I'll read something online, and I'll often explore Youtube. I still support most activities and was pleased to see a few former members with plenty to say.

Sam Perry made the news when he helped criminals try to import 170 million dollars worth of drugs into the country. I've not heard his side of the story but it's a rotten headline. I had a lot of time for Dave as an official and his father looked after me when I came back into the industry.

The idea of appointing an administrator to be in charge of the union didn't sit well with me. I have no intention losing sleep over the decision which I believe is to avoid a Royal Commission. That would only hurt the wrong people!