The Queensland Journal Of Labour History No. 8, March 2009 ISSN 1832-9926 Contents EDITORIAL Dale Lorna Jacobsen 1 BLHA President’s Column Greg Mallory 3 IN MEMORIAM Maureen Frances Watson Sheryl Gwyther 6 ARTICLES Eva’s Story Connie Healy 9 The Great Sex Education Pamphlet Katrina Barben 19 Scandal of 1971 A Commitment to Peace: The Women’s Tanya Negerevich 25 International League for Peace and Freedom in Queensland BOOK REVIEWS Market versus Nature Peter Riedlinger 37 Trade Unionism in Australia Greg Mallory 40 & After the Waterfront Against All Odds Barbara Webster 43 ASIO: The Enemy Within Dan O’Gorman 46 A Probe into Disturbing History Tony Reeves 48 (A Report on Mick Tubbs’ Book Launch) The Flames of Discontent Rekindled at Dale Lorna Jacobsen 51 Woodford Folk Festival (A Review of Two Concerts) CONTRIBUTORS 54 NOTICEBOARD 56iii Editorial Dale Lorna Jacobsen It gives me great pleasure to bring which encompassed two World Wars you this special Women’s edition of and the Vietnam War, WILPF worked The Queensland Journal of Labour towards empowering women of History. For some time I have wanted different social, economic and political to devote a March issue to the stories backgrounds, in the hope of achieving of the Women’s Movement and to peace, disarmament and social justice salute the members of the Union of globally. Tanya Negerevich, a student Australian Women. (We are proud to of Political Science and International say that this issue has been supported Studies at the University of Queensland, by the Queensland members of UAW.) undertook an internship with WILPF, I also acknowledge the co-editorship resulting in a deepening interest in of BLHA member Peter Riedlinger for gender issues and exploration of the this issue. role of women’s peace activism in global society. Eva Bacon was a founding member of the UAW in Queensland and went on And who could forget the great sex to become State Secretary, President, education pamphlet scandal of 1971? national committee member and I remember it well, as does Katrina Enoggera branch activist. It became Barben who challenged Gabby Horan her life’s work. Hence it seemed fitting on talkback radio when Brisbane was to invite Eva’s friend (and BLHA abuzz with debate. member) Connie Healy to write an article celebrating the life of this pint- We also have five important books sized powerful woman. reviewed within these pages: Eric Aarons Market Versus Nature; Mick The second of our major articles, “A Tubbs’ ASIO: The Enemy Within; Commitment to Peace: The Women’s Bradley Bowden’s Against All Odds: International League for Peace and The History of the United Firefighters Freedom in Queensland”, gives an Union in Queensland 1917-2008; insight into the unflagging endeavours Tom Bramble’s: Trade Unionism in of WILPF from its formation as an Australia: A history from flood to international Non-Governmental ebb tide; and After the Waterfront: Organisation in 1915. During a time The Workers are Quiet, by LeftPress 1 Collective. The latter two are to be While on the subject of folk music and discussed at a seminar, Trade Unions: International Women’s Day, I thought I Past, Present, Future, hosted by BLHA would take the liberty of including the on 7 March. photo below taken in the early 1990s in the Queen Street Mall on IWD. At that We have a moving tribute to a time I was a member of the folk group remarkable women who passed on Rosehill Fayre. We sang without fear, in January this year: Aunty Maureen upholding principals we held dear, and Watson — she will be sadly missed were invited to play at UAW functions, by Indigenous and non-Indigenous Reclaim the Night rallies, CPA events people alike. And there is a report on and, of course, IWD celebrations. I am the hugely successful staging of two the one on the left; the other two are Flames of Discontent concerts at the Lonnie Martin and Toni Wood, both Woodford Folk Festival — and much powerful women who still sing. more... HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY * * * * Rosehill Fayre perform for IWD celebrations, Queen Street Mall, early 1990s. Dale Jacobsen (your editor), Lonnie Martin, Toni Wood. 2 BLHA President’s Column Greg Mallory Once again, it is pleasing to report At the Woodford Folk Festival the on the great activism of the BLHA, BLHA was honoured to work with making it one of the most active the CFMEU Construction branch in ASSLH branches in the country. presenting two concerts on our theme of “Rekindling the Flames of Discontent”. 2008 Events The first concert, which was held in a smaller venue (The Muse), attracted The BLHA conducted three major around 150 people and the evening events at the end of 2008. Firstly, the event at the Concert Stage attracted a crowd of around 800. The “Flames” Queensland Mines and Energy Minister, concert will be a regular feature of Geoff Wilson, launched Mick Tubbs’ the Festival from now on. The BLHA book, ASIO: The Enemy Within, at the would like to thank Bill Hauritz, CEO Brisbane Workers Community Centre of the Festival, the behind the scenes (BWCC). The event was well attended workers, and the organising committee and Mick’s speech on the activities for their support. We would also like of ASIO over the past 60 years was to thank Jason Stein and the CFMEU well received. The second event was Construction branch for their help, our AGM, the highlight of which was particularly with the slide show at the the bestowing of Life Membership on evening concert. Manfred Cross. Manfred has given 2009/10 Planned Events life-long service to labour history and the labour movement. A short piece on On 7 March we are holding a seminar at Manfred’s involvement was provided the BWCC on the topic Trade Unions: in our February Newsletter. Another Past, Present, Future. The speakers highlight of the AGM was the fabulous will be: Dr Joan Corrie, from Griffith “political cabaret” performance by University, on union amalgamations of Absolutely Scandalous. the 1990s concentrating on the AMWU 3 and the CFMEU; Dr Tom Bramble, times: the labour movement and the from the University of Queensland, on environment movement. The BLHA his book Trade Unionism in Australia, Executive has written to academics and the LeftPress Collective on their and activists in both these areas book After the Waterfront. Margaret inviting them to attend. Jack Mundey Lee, State Secretary of the NTEU, has been asked to open the conference will be launching this edition of The and other notable speakers who have Queensland Journal of Labour History been invited are Professor Ian Lowe, at this event as well as chairing the John Bellamy Foster from Canada and discussion panel. Tony Maher from the Federal CFMEU Mining & Energy Division. This will It is a great pleasure to announce be an historic conference and should that the BLHA will be holding the attract wide media attention. The inaugural Alex Macdonald Memorial academic papers from this conference Lecture in mid-May. The year 2009 will provide the basis for a special marks 40 years since Alex’s death and thematic edition of the federal journal it is only fitting that a memorial lecture Labour History in November 2010. be held in his name. The lecture will be presented by Professor Margaret Levi, Federal Matters formerly the Harry Bridges Chair in the Harry Bridges Centre for Labor Studies The Federal Executive has been holding at the University of Washington, and its Executive meetings by telephone who currently holds, jointly, Professor hook-up during the year, however of Politics, United States Study Centre, in November I attended a Federal Sydney University, and Bacharach Professor of International Studies, Executive meeting in Sydney as well University of Washington. The lecture as the Federal AGM. I also attended will be preceded by a talk by Hughie the Federal Editorial Board meeting Hamilton, Manfred Cross and Alan of Labour History. A number of major Anderson on the contribution Alex decisions were made at these meetings. made to the labour movement in Firstly Janis Bailey, Dale Jacobsen and Queensland. myself have been appointed by the Editorial Board to edit the thematic The next big event of the BLHA is a “red-green” edition of Labour History “red-green” conference to be held on in November 2010. 7-8 February 2010. The conference is in the early days of planning Another decision relates to the Federal but essentially will bring together ASSLH web-page. It will be updated academics and activists from the two and branch secretaries will be “trained” most significant movements of our to administer the web-page. 4 A significant event also occurred at a Life Member in 2006. The BLHA the AGM. Terry Irving was made a thanks Ted for all his work as Secretary Life Member of ASSLH. Terry was and Treasurer over the years. Ted has one of the founding members of the assured us that he will be available organisation and it is only fitting he for various jobs. With a number of receive such an honour. Terry has been activities to occur in the next 15 a long-term member of the Sydney months, the Executive will be calling branch, and in the last number of on Ted, particularly for his expert help years has also been a BLHA member. on photographs. Jason Stein takes over The BLHA congratulates him on this as Treasurer and Andrew Martin has honour. been elected to the Executive. I wish them well in their new jobs. “Power to the People: Legacies of 1968”, University of Wollongong Lastly I must thank the old Executive Conference for making 2008 a rewarding year and in particular Dale Jacobsen for her In September I attended a conference excellent work as Secretary, the putting at the University of Wollongong on the together and editing of Newsletters, “politics” of 1968.