'Godparents of the activist core' take up post in Venezuela

Adam Baker, Brisbane

Since their arrival here in 1987, Jim McIlroy and Coral Wynter have become permanent fixtures in the local activist scene. There has been barely a left or progressive campaign in the last 18 years that has not benefited from their input.

Now the pair are taking up a new challenge — moving to Venezuela for 12 months to head up Green Left Weekly's Caracas bureau. From there they will file frequent reports on developments in the Venezuelan revolution, which is taking Latin American and world politics by storm.

It will be a particularly important time for the government of President Hugo Chavez, and the revolutionary movement. Presidential elections are scheduled for the end of the year and the possibility of United States intervention to prevent another win by Chavez is, unfortunately, all too real.

A farewell party for Coral and Jim, held at the Brisbane Activist Centre on January 14, was attended by around 50 activists, including from Australian Aid for Ireland, the Latin American left, anti-nuclear and anti-war campaigners, and activists from various socialist organisations. Entertainment by Indigenous band Black Velvet, as well as performances from Mark Cronin and Ovideo Orellana, capped off the night.

Murri leader Sam Watson described Jim and Coral as "the godparents of the activist core" in Brisbane, remarking that it will be different to be in West End, or at a rally, and not be confronted by Jim or Coral selling Green Left and handing you a leaflet or three for upcoming political events. Ray Ferguson from the Communist Party of Australia reminisced about the valiant attempts in the 1980s to unite the (then) Socialist Party of Australia and the (then) Democratic Socialist Party, in which Jim and Coral played a part.

Coral said the trip to Venezuela was "a once in a lifetime opportunity to see first-hand how a revolution is actually carried out". We look forward to sharing that experience through Jim and Coral's reports in Green Left Weekly throughout 2006.

From Green Left Weekly, January 25, 2006.

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From GLW issue 653