Hungry Mile recognition extended

Date: 12 June 2008

After a concerted campaign by Sydney's maritime workers and their union, the Hungry Mile is now set to be the official locality name around a stretch of Hickson Road in Sydney.

The proposal is now before the Geographical Names Board and is supported by the City of Sydney Council, the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, the NSW government and the MUA. The name of the point will be Barangaroo but the area itself will remain the Hungry Mile.

The MUA signed a MOA with the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority last year after winning approval from the NSW state government for recognition of the Hungry Mile and labour history in the area. The renaming application then went to the Sydney City Council which approved the move.

"This is an historic day where the labour history of the wharves has been officially recognised," said Paddy Crumlin, National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia.

"There is a very rich history in this part of Sydney that stretches back almost 200 years. This place lies at the centre of our maritime heritage and culture," he said.

"Many great battles were fought on this amazing part of Australia's industrial landscape. The gains made by workers in this area were enormous as were the battles that characterised the internationalism of Australia's wharfies and seafarers", said Mr. Crumlin

Maritime workers resisted governments sending pig iron to Japan prior to World War II, fought for Indonesian independence and opposed the war in Vietnam. The Hungry Mile outside the Darling Harbour Wharves was the scene of huge community protests during the 1998 Patrick dispute.

The MUA held a "Dedication to the Hungry Mile" on April 11 in conjunction with its National Delegates' Conference and hosting of the international mining and maritime seminar, As well as the several hundred veteran wharfies, delegates and international guests were special guest speakers actor Jack Thomson (reading the poem The Hungry Mile by Ernest Antony) and both federal and state arts ministers.

See the film clip:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=sbdK2BaLqRE

For further information

Contact:	Paddy Crumlin
Union:	Maritime Union of Australia
Phone:	+61 2 9267 9134
Contact Mobile:	0418 379 660
WWW:	http://mua.org.au/

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