CORROBOREE

They came from the four corners of the globe - to meet, to celebrate, to honour their elders and inspire their youth. It started with a three day conference of the world's maritime and mining workers capped by a centenary dinner embracing the entire labour movement, Aboriginal Australian dance and ritual.

The 600 unionists and guests from home and abroad came together in Sydney on the night of September 20 to celebrate 100 years since the founding of the Waterside Workers' Federation and the birth of seafarers hero EV Elliott; 102 years since the birth of big Jim Healy, 130 years since the formation of the first seamen's and wharf labourers' unions in Australia, four years since the Patrick lockout and touching 10 years since the amalgamation of this great union - the MUA.

The official welcome to country by Didjigal Tribe representative Vic Simms, was followed by the Yirrkala Dance Group before the baton was passed to political comic and commentator Bryan Dawe.

The night featured film and music, food and dance with guests including keynote speaker, former prime minister Bob Hawke, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers' Federation David Cockroft, President of International Chemical, Energy and Mining Confederation and National Secretary of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union John Maitland and maritime and mining workers from Africa, Europe, Japan and the US.

Bob Hawke warned against Australia becoming involved in another Vietnam, by going all the way with the USA to Iraq, and condemned Prime Minister Howard for commemorating Gallipoli, but failing to acknowledge the blood this nation was founded on by denying recognition of Aboriginal history.

The ACTU secretary and former MUA employee, Greg Combet, recalled his work for the mining and maritime unions and stressed the need to develop transnational union networks to challenge economic globalisation.

Speeches were mostly kept short and sweet with Lloyds List DCN commentator Sandy Galbraith acknowledging slick performances from Combet and Crumlin as 'neatly demonstrating the union movement's changing style and approach'.

Union elders were then welcomed on stage with rousing applause to be presented with life membership of the MUA. They included Patrick Geraghty, former national secretary of the Seamen's Union, Tas Bull, former national secretary of the WWF, and John Coombs, the first and former national secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, and the leader of our victory over Patrick. And just to make sure the night was also about making history, not just celebrating the past, the union awarded, ACTU Secretary Greg Combet, life membership.

"Greg has not just been a former employee of the WWF, and a staunch supporter of the MUA," said National Secretary Paddy Crumlin. "His role in support of the Union particularly during the Patrick dispute and subsequently with the ongoing attack on seafarers' rights to work by the Howard Government, has been one of the most important contributions to the union in its history."

The dinner was sponsored by the MUA, the CFMEU, the Maritime Workers' Credit Union, super funds, SRF, SERF and Members Equity organisations which support maritime workers and in turn are supported by maritime workers.

National Secretary Paddy Crumlin described the evening as a great celebration of trade union history and a re-affirmation that the MUA is here to stay!