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           Shipping Stevedoring Port Services Hydrocarbons Diving  Jul-Aug 2008        |
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Birthday in Havana
Union veteran and aid chief Tas Bull celebrates his 70th in Cuban capital Long time wharfie and seafarer, chair of the ACTU aid agency Apheda, former general secretary of the Waterside Workers' Federation Tas Bull celebrated his 70th birthday in Havana, Cuba on January 26. Among the 45 guests including friends from Cuba, Sweden, New Zealand, the UK, Australia and Argentinia at Friendship House in Vedado on the night was an MUA contingent including Assistant National Secretary Jim Tannock, Adelaide Branch Secretary Ric Newlyn, WA Assistant Branch Secretary Wal Pritchard and retired seafarers Alan Oliver, John Cleaver and Alan Cameron. Other guests and speakers were the past and present Cuban consuls to Australia (Marcelino Fajardo, now on Foreign Affairs Nth American Desk and Sicilia Fernandez and Julio Sosa and Alicia Corredera from the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the People (ICAP), Jose Villamil, General Secretary of the Maritime Union of Cuba & Member of Congress, Arturo Ravina, Argentine maritime lawyer and past ITF legal representative,Alf Liebhold,Doctors' Reform Society (Australia) and Mark Davis (ITF Project leader). The MC was Wilfred Melgar ITF Club for Seafarers, (Sydney). Also a guest of honour was Prof. Eugenio Selman Housein ,Snr surgeon at William Soler Childrens' Cardiac Hospital, where Tas has helped Apheda raise a half million dollars in aid and equipment for children suffering congenital heart disease. National Secretary Paddy Crumlin sent his congratulations on the night, describing Tas as someone who combines the energy of youth with the wisdom of experience. "It is with great regret that I am not there amongst the comrades celebrating both the durability, determination and substance of both the man and the country where the celebrations are taking place." he wrote. "Your abiding trust in building a more empathetic, compassionate and a just society could not be celebrated in a more appropriate location than Cuba. The tenaciousness of the Cuban people in seeking to find a life for all of the participants of their society free of prejudice, greed, exploitation and elitism is an enduring symbol of hope and inspiration for so many people around the world. I know that it is no accident that both Tassie Bull and Cuba are such an effective combination. "Viva Tassie, Viva Fidel, Viva the Working Class!" Tas gave his 'speech in reply' in both English and Spanish, paying tribute to the Cuban hosts and his friends and colleagues from all around the world who attended or sent messages and to his wife Carmen who had 'put up with him for more than thirty years'. The MUA/ITF delegation also took time off from their holiday to meet with the head of the Cuban maritime union Jose Villamil and representatives of the Cuban central union body (CTC). (Full report next MWJ)
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