MAY DAY IN THE PORT FREE ACTIVITIES OVER - MAY 2021 - Vitalstatistix

MAY DAY
IN THE PORT
FREE ACTIVITIES OVER
  HISTORY MONTH

  MAY 2021

100 YEARS
                 1921 - 2021
The Port Adelaide Workers Memorial immortalises the
struggles of labour leaders before us. Temporarily relocating
the May Day celebrations to Port Adelaide to coincide with
the Centenary of the Workers Memorial will give many
unionists South Australia wide the opportunity to pay their
respects to the pioneers that fought for the rights we have
today, particuarly the 8 hour day.

We would like to thank the Port Adelaide Enfield Council for
their assistance and generosity. A special mention is also owed
to the Port of Adelaide National Trust, May Day Collective
committee members and volunteers who have so selflessly
donated their time to ensure this event is a success.

Matt Blowes,
President, SA May Day Collective

The Port of Adelaide National Trust (PoANT) is an advocacy
branch of the National Trust of SA, originally formed to fight
to maintain the maritime and working class heritage in Port
Adelaide. Our inaugural meeting was inspired by Jack Mundy
who addressed a public meeting in the Waterside Workers
Hall on the campaign that saved the The Rocks residential area
in Sydney.

Each year the Branch has presented the Rex Munn Cultural
Heritage Award at the Workers Memorial Inscription
Ceremony. For the 2021 Centenary, we responded to one of
our members, Julie Conway and commenced what became a
ridiculously ambitious program to celebrate 100 years of Port
residents working for justice. PoANT members have traced
the descendants of the 138 names on the statue, to inform
them about the Centenary. Many descendants had lost touch
with this impressive public monument and the contributions
of their forebearers. May is History Month in SA, so as an
extension of this Centenary project, the Branch has put
together the ‘May in Port Adelaide’ events, to celebrate the
working class history of the Port and to recognise the many
residents who have worked to improve life in the Port. A big
thank you to our volunteers and partners, the SA May Day
Collective, SA Maritime Museum, PAE Council and Library,
and Workers Memorial Trustees.

Michelle Hogan,
Chair, Port of Adelaide National Trust

MAY DAY 2021
STREET PARTY AND MARCH
Put Saturday 1st May - May Day - in your calendar!

Join us and march to celebrate the international day of
the worker and remember the working class struggles that
brought us the 8 hour day.

This year our celebrations have been temporarily relocated to
Port Adelaide to coincide with the Centenary of the Workers
Memorial in Port Adelaide. We will also be incorporating the
rich working class history and historic charm of the Waterside
Workers Hall. This is a family event for all to enjoy. We look
forward to seeing you there.

MEET
Maritime Museum 126 Lipson Street Port Adelaide at 1pm

MARCH
To Nile Street Port Adelaide for street party.

NILE STREET PARTY
We will have food trucks operated by Taco Cat, Gourmet
Grillerz and Incognito Coffee, bars kindly operated by Western
Ridge Brewing and Big Shed Brewing, Union and community
group stalls, live music throughout the day by Born on Monday
Choir, The Saucermen and The Finns, petting zoo, speeches,
awards and an auction. We will also be incorporating the
                          historical significance and charm of
                          the Waterside Workers Hall.

                         SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS
                         Uluru Statement of the Heart,
                         Thomas Mayor – MUA National
                         Indigenous Officer and MUA NT
                         Deputy Branch Secretary, Fighting
                         for Health AEA, UFU and SASMOA -
                         delegates and officials, Living Income
                         for Everyone Campaign Eileen Darley

                         *Please note we require strict
                         adherence with COVID regulations.
                         Physical distancing of 1.5m and
                         contact tracing via QR code will apply.
                         Masks are encouraged.

PORT OF ADELAIDE
NATIONAL TRUST PRESENTS

MARCHING
FOR JUSTICE
A free exhibition of Trade Union Banners:
old & new
10am – 4pm
Saturdays & Sundays
May 1-2, May 8-9 and May 15-16
Maritime Union Meeting Hall
Enter via Hare St
This free public exhibition brings together one of the largest
displays of Trade Union Banners ever seen in Australia.

Coinciding with the Centenary of the Port Adelaide Workers
Memorial, it celebrates the contribution that workers, united in
unions, have made to society.

Unions covering men and women in a wide range of occupations,
across South Australia and the Northern Territory, are
represented. Banners date from the early twentieth century to
the present.

Many banners and pennants are held by unions.
They continue to feature on marches and union events.

Some banners, especially the very old and fragile,
are held by the History Trust and State Library, as part of
State History Collections. MUA Building, 65 St Vincent St
(enter via Hare Street).

Port Adelaide Workers Memorial
The plinth of the memorial was established in
1918 to honour 41 Portonians who campaigned in the
preceding 50 years of the labour movement
for the 8hr day, a living wage, safe work
and a decent quality of life. In 1921 the Lady
of Justice was added to the plinth. In 2021,
we are celebrating the Centenary of installation of the
Lady of Justice. The statue was commissioned in Italy
and donated by Mr Winter, then owner of the Ozone
Fish Café (now Argo’s). The beauty and symbolism of
its design was to inspire future generations to fight for
a fairer, more democratic society for working people.
The trustees of the memorial are SA Unions, the ALP
Hindmarsh Federal Electorate Council (previously Port
Adelaide FEC) and the Port Adelaide Enfield Council.

Port of Adelaide National Trust
Descendants Tracing Project
PoANT members have traced the descendants of the
138 names on the statue, to inform them about the
Centenary. This information will be available to the
public in the Port Adelaide Library Historical Collection
and the SA Maritime Museum throughout May.

Workers Memorial Inscription Ceremony
and Rex Munn Cultural Award
10am- 11.30am
Cnr of Commercial Rd and St Vincent St
This is an INVITATION ONLY event due to COVID
restrictions. It will feature a Welcome to Country and
Smoking Ceremony by Uncle Fred Agius (one of the
descendants). This annual inscription ceremony will
celebrate the inscription of Peter Nicholls (2020) and
James Paul O’Connor (2021) for their contribution to
bettering life in the Port, along with recognising
the Centenary of the memorial’s Statue of Justice
with invited descendants. This will be followed by
the presentation of the PoANT 2021 Rex Munn
Award recognising current efforts supporting local
cultural heritage.

Assembly at the Workers Memorial
12.30pm - 1.30pm
Cnr of Commercial Rd and St Vincent St
Descendants and friends are invited to assemble
at the memorial to cheer the May Day March
participants and/or join the March, walking with
the PoANT banner to the Nile Street Party and
descendants stall. Information available at stall.

PoANT and Maritime Museum ‘Labour of
Love’ Paste Up Project and Guided Walk
4pm - 5pm Workers Memorial
Cnr of Commercial Rd and St Vincent St
Graphic artist, Rachel Harris, pastes an interpretation
of historic photos related to the Workers Memorial
on local buildings. DIY walk these paste ups anytime
using the insert or register for a guided tour on the
City of PAE Event signup https://cityofpae.evanced.
info/signup . A second tour will be held 2pm 9 May.

Maritime Museum ‘Labour of Love’
Display related to the Port Adelaide
Workers Memorial
10am - 5pm daily
South Australia Maritime Museum, 126
Lipson St
A kiosk continually screening the Labour of Love
digital stories featuring nine short stories of people
honoured on the Workers Memorial including
founding members of the Working Man’s Association,
Charles Hains and William Hack, Hon. John Carr MLC,
Mayor Anna Rennie, Secretary of the SA Seamen’s
Union, Ron Giffard and activists Ruby Hammond,
Dr Alan Finger, Eulalie Tapp, and Arthur Mortimer.

Parallel Activities on May Day and during May
in the Port
• An exhibition of drawings of the Port Adelaide Workers
  Memorial (Judicia) by Jan Shone will be held throughout
  May at Jackalope Studio & Gallery, 19 Calton Street.
  The exhibition will be opened at 2pm on May 1st by the
  Hon. Chris Kourakis. All welcome.
• The Visitor Information Centre Gallery is open 10am – 5pm
  Saturday and various times over May for an exhibition
  by the Royal South Australian Society of Arts Inc. titled
  ‘Two Views – Then and Now’.
• 3pm Opening of ‘Once Upon A Time’ Port Community
  Arts Centre members exhibition at the Black Diamond
  Gallery, featuring PoANT ‘Lady of Justice – Then and Now’
  Centenary Art Prize. Open over May.
• PAEC Library History Collection opening hours
  9.30am - 4pm, 2 Church St Port Adelaide
• May Day themed art and performance at Vitalstatistix
  based at the Waterside Workers Hall, with two projects
  in May - Bodies of Work and tiny revolutions.
  Info at www.vitalstatistix.com.au.

Other local galleries to visit
(check weekday hours)
• Post Office Projects, 175 St Vincent Street, open from
  10am - 1pm, showcasing artworks by artists from Tutti Arts.
• Mixed Creative Café and Gallery, open from 10am; enjoy
  café refreshments, laneway garden and view the latest art
  exhibition.

            Pictured: Jan Shone’s works that will be
           exhibited at Jackalope Studio and Gallery