Leadership

Struggle, Solidarity and Unity: 150 Years of Maritime Unions in Australia

A great asset to the maritime unions has been the stability and longevity of their key officials, both at a federal and state level.

For the Waterside Workers' Federation, this included lengthy periods of service as General Secretary by Joe Morris, Arthur Turley, Jim Healy, Charlie Fitzgibbon, Tas Bull and John Coombs, with Healy, Fitzgibbon and Coombs each serving in the role for more than 20 years. Other long-serving federal officials included Ted Roach (Assistant General Secretary, 1941-1967), Norm Docker (Industrial Officer / Assistant General Secretary, 1951-1983 and General Secretary, 1983-1984), Maurie Wallington (Federal Organiser, 1955-1973) and Leo Lanane (Federal Organiser / Assistant General Secretary, 1973-1988).  

At the WWF branch level, Ted Bull, Charlie Young, Mick O’Neil and Geoff Swan all held office in Melbourne for more than 20 years, as did Jim ‘Dutchy’ Young, Ivo Barrett, Stan Moran and Matt Munro in the Sydney Branch.

The Seamen's Union of Australia benefitted from having E.V. Elliott as its Federal Secretary for almost 40 years, with his successor, Pat Geraghty serving as Assistant Federal Secretary and then Federal Secretary from the late 1960s to the 1990s, when the union amalgamated with the WWF to form the MUA. Other officials who served with the SUA for decades included Assistant Federal Secretary Pat ‘Taffy’ Sweetensen and Sydney Branch Secretary John Benson. 

 

Secretary of the Waterside Workers' Federation Sydney Branch, Jim (Dutchy) Young, address wharfies, Wooloomooloo, New South Wales, undated (Z432-86-8-09).

Secretary of the Waterside Workers' Federation Sydney Branch, Jim (Dutchy) Young, address wharfies, Wooloomooloo, New South Wales, undated (Z432-86-8-09).

Waterside Workers' Federation officials (L to R) Ivo Barrett, unidentified Cairns Delegate, Jim Healy and Tom Nelson, Sydney, New South Wales, undated (Z248-80-11).

Waterside Workers' Federation officials (L to R) Ivo Barrett, unidentified Cairns Delegate, Jim Healy and Tom Nelson, Sydney, New South Wales, undated (Z248-80-11).

Seamen's Union of Australia officials John Barklay, John Brennan and Pat (Taffy) Sweetensen, c. 1980s (N409-110-41).

Seamen's Union of Australia officials John Barklay, John Brennan and Pat (Taffy) Sweetensen, c. 1980s (N409-110-41).

Waterside Workers' Federation Port Kembla / South Coast Branch Secretary Ted Roach raised on the shoulders of fellow wharfies following his release from gaol, c. 1951 (Z432-86-19-06).

Waterside Workers' Federation Port Kembla / South Coast Branch Secretary Ted Roach raised on the shoulders of fellow wharfies following his release from gaol, c. 1951 (Z432-86-19-06).

Seamen's Union of Australia Sydney Branch Secretary John Benson, undated (N409-90-35).

Seamen's Union of Australia Sydney Branch Secretary John Benson, undated (N409-90-35).

Seamen's Union of Australia Officials, Sydney, New South Wales, 1952 (Z91-135). Photographer - Phil Ward. Pictured L to R E.V. Elliott, Barney Smith, Bill Bird, Ron Hurd, John Connor, Jock Buchanan and John Brennan.

Seamen's Union of Australia Officials, Sydney, New South Wales, 1952 (Z91-135). Photographer - Phil Ward. Pictured L to R E.V. Elliott, Barney Smith, Bill Bird, Ron Hurd, John Connor, Jock Buchanan and John Brennan.

Waterside Workers' Federation Sydney Branch Treasurer Stan Moran addresses a group of protestors during the Margins Dispute, Sydney, New South Wales, 1956 (Z248-81-12).

Waterside Workers' Federation Sydney Branch Treasurer Stan Moran addresses a group of protestors during the Margins Dispute, Sydney, New South Wales, 1956 (Z248-81-12).