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| Me ist edition-will be worth loads of dosh one day |
After a scorcher of May, bloody winter has remembered its supposed to be here in Sydney by now. And joost as the Belgo Geordie's put their heads oot door to set off to walk the Tom Uren trail it (the Sydney weather) decided to turn English on oos. Catching steam packet across harbour to East Balmain wharf it drizzled and were as cold as Bognor Regis on a summer's day. Mr Belgo Geordie forgetin' he comes from north east like, moaned his grizzled balls off. Both of us dressed like we were off to visit Invercargill, thick coats, beanies and scarves. We thought Mr Uren would ha probably approved that it were a bit brisk like. Tha' yer had to show a bit of fortitude to turn oot. Aye, I would have turned out arse deep in snow to pay my respects to him! And this day, this was summat special! Tom Uren would ha bin 95 today and to say he is still much missed by those comrades he inspired is an understatement. In conversation after conversation it was acknowledged he has left a bloody big hole in the political landscape but still lived on in the hearts of those present today.
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| Why aye! Tom's trail points left |
It were inspiring that the Leichhardt Mayor and Council having joost bin sacked by the Robber Baron Baird and his government of Tory Stooges still delivered on this. You could see it were a job of love and a special thanks to the workers that did the slog of setting things up and then running the barbie and kindly allowed an oldie his second snarler tucked in a piece of white bread!
The launch took place opposite Packers Palace of Greed and it were a reminder of the things Tom Uren stood for and fought against. This were the theme from the speakers. The call to country was a gentle delivery and it were a pleasure to hear indigenous words of greeting and celebration. We were reminded that had Tom Uren been present in the flesh he would be railing against the urban greed visible across the water, he would have been on the streets over the sacking of elected councils; the forced amalgamations. As one speaker said, he created a portfolio for the environment, he was passionate about urban living being about community and places such as the park in which we stood and a walking path that opened up the harbour for the use of all people - not just the rich. We owe it to him the inner city has not been completely gutted, boot as with Millers Point - that tide is in the turn.
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| The fiery Mrs Tom |
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| Albo remembers Tom Uren an Packer's bloated empire looks on |
It were a pleasure and privilege to stand in the rain an' reminisce on Mr Uren and all the speakers were good in inspiring and lifting the hearts and minds of us present. Boot in particular it were the words which reminded us of the importance of politics to be connected to people and not sound bites. Albo, Mrs Tom and the now former mayor of Leichhardt Darcy Byrne, mixed the personal with the political message and calls to arms much beloved by Tom Uren. They reminded us of Tom's courage and vision. His passion and his heart. His ability to fight injustice in whatever form. Sooch as when Albo was told by Tom's old comrades (prisoners of war under the Japanese) that Tom put himself between them and Japanese bayonets in the prison camp. Tom was not ever not going to stand up and be counted and Albo said he did this in a way that he was loved and respected. Mrs Tom spoke with fire and passion that rattled the fillings and showed that behind every great man is an equally strong, bloody minded woman. Understated she may be but hit the mark in reminding us this was a mortal man who achieved great things. Likewise Michael and Ruby were a joy standing up and remembering their dad, the man. Ruby pointing out there was no room for hatred of people in Tom's life, hatred eats you up. Attack the system. Boot where his hatred was spot on, and I share his belief, we should all hate fascism and that is again on the rise. Trump is a good example. Here in Australia it is watered down but shows where there is a push for totalitarianism, and led by racism. These speeches were a mix of the personal and political and I loved Mrs Tom's* explanation of if Tom was still around the house in Balmain would be under a black thundercloud of Tom indignation and the phone running hot to media, Labor HQ, unions, asking people what they were doing to expose Baird's undemocratic sacking of elected councils. On the walk I dare say he would also have something to say about those rich folk that have managed to cut off the sea shore from public use by use of big bloody fences.
There was also a reading by Jenni Nixon of her poem The Bombardier on the Bus with the line "Called the conscience of Parliament-broken nose champion prizefighter". So all in all, this is a fitting living memorial to Tom Uren, a walking path following the watta around Balmain. An one and all agreed the old bugger would have been chuffed to be remembered in this way. Aye, as long as folk walk and talk social justice and being bloody good to one another and glower at Packers over sized lunch box across the way. Without a doubt this is a grand and deserved tribute to the old warrior. He was a walker, a talker, an engager of people-and not just man of the people but for the people and it showed in the turn out of folk. The brollies were up but the blood still runs hot in Tom's mob. As Albo put it, those here today, those standing in the rain are as much Tom's extended family and his legacy.
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| Poetry reading The Bombardier on the Bus |
By the by, 1 June 2016 is the 80th anniversary of the Jarrow March. That is also summat Tom Uren would have appreciated.
*Mrs Tom in her day job is of course the very beautiful and gutsy Christine Logan who although she looks as if butter would not melt, she has old man's steel in her veins and fire in her belly.
It were a pleasure and privilege to stand in the rain an' reminisce on Mr Uren and all the speakers were good in inspiring and lifting the hearts and minds of us present. Boot in particular it were the words which reminded us of the importance of politics to be connected to people and not sound bites. Albo, Mrs Tom and the now former mayor of Leichhardt Darcy Byrne, mixed the personal with the political message and calls to arms much beloved by Tom Uren. They reminded us of Tom's courage and vision. His passion and his heart. His ability to fight injustice in whatever form. Sooch as when Albo was told by Tom's old comrades (prisoners of war under the Japanese) that Tom put himself between them and Japanese bayonets in the prison camp. Tom was not ever not going to stand up and be counted and Albo said he did this in a way that he was loved and respected. Mrs Tom spoke with fire and passion that rattled the fillings and showed that behind every great man is an equally strong, bloody minded woman. Understated she may be but hit the mark in reminding us this was a mortal man who achieved great things. Likewise Michael and Ruby were a joy standing up and remembering their dad, the man. Ruby pointing out there was no room for hatred of people in Tom's life, hatred eats you up. Attack the system. Boot where his hatred was spot on, and I share his belief, we should all hate fascism and that is again on the rise. Trump is a good example. Here in Australia it is watered down but shows where there is a push for totalitarianism, and led by racism. These speeches were a mix of the personal and political and I loved Mrs Tom's* explanation of if Tom was still around the house in Balmain would be under a black thundercloud of Tom indignation and the phone running hot to media, Labor HQ, unions, asking people what they were doing to expose Baird's undemocratic sacking of elected councils. On the walk I dare say he would also have something to say about those rich folk that have managed to cut off the sea shore from public use by use of big bloody fences.
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