Before the Gangway
One of the greatest moment of my life happened when I was a 17 year old. It was the night I got my first pay packet when I worked at Bradmill in Kotara. Previously, I was on the Dole and I did some work for people that only paid you in cash. One bloke didn't pay me at all and another took 50 percent of tax from my pay. Years later I learned the bloke that docked me probably never paid tax himself. There were no agreement or union about, so I looked at it as a big lesson. Although I took advantage of the beach, I really wanted a decent job. I bought a Suzuki TS125 trail bike from Boolaroo and got a learner's permit. Eventually I got my provisional license and then got disqualified after my P plate broke. My name was down at a few places but wanting to go to sea was a priority. In July 1977 Bradmill was my first real employer. My rank was a Bobbin Boy and I was thrilled to have a stable job. I became a member of a trade union for the first time in my life. The Australian...