Fitting farewell to committed socialist
BY MARG PERROTT
WOLLONGONG -- Socialists, trade unionists, union singers, environmental activists, friends, comrades, relatives and workers filled Heineiger Hall in Dapto here on April 1 to farewell George Petersen, former state ALP member for Illawarra and life-long socialist. Five hundred people celebrated a life of working-class activism and humanitarianism with tributes and song.
Former ALP MP Stuart West spoke of Petersen's deep political commitment. “George had faith in his own political judgement, his own class, trade unionism and mass action for change”, he said.
He remembered Petersen as saying that “leadership is not about faith, it's about acting together with commitment, perseverance and steel, and then you can make an unpopular issue popular.”
“He was truly part of the struggle”, Graham Roberts, the national president of the Australian Workers Union (AWU) and the union's Port Kembla secretary, said. “When we were on the stump in the morning -- George was there. When we were on the stump in the afternoon -- George was there and when were on the stump at night -- George was there. It was his great love to be with the workers when they were in struggle.”
Civil libertarian Tim Anderson spoke of George's great warmth and breadth of interests. “He was someone who always challenged me”, he said. “He had no sense of self-aggrandisement ... The socialist project was in his sights -- reforms were not enough for him.”
Solicitor John Marsden gave a moving speech about Petersen's commitment to homosexual law reform. He described how Petersen had averted Marsden's suicide by convincing him that it was the law that was wrong, not his sexuality. “How many other young gay men owe their lives to George Petersen?”, he asked, even when Petersen's stand had not been popular with workers and trade unionists.
It was a great send off, but George Petersen will be sorely missed.
There will be a memorial for Petersen in Sydney on April 16 at 1pm at the Glebe Town Hall, St Johns Road. Speakers will include Ali Kazak, Irina Dunn, Phil Sandford, Lex Watson, Eric Paterson, Tim Anderson and others.
