Charles Errock 6

 Charles Errock 6

Deciding to move to Adelaide

When I was working in Port Lincoln and applied for the job in Adelaide, I've got a phone from Adelaide and they flew me over. I was interviewed by the staff clerk at the Islington Workshop.  After the interview, he walked me to the gate where I was waiting for transport to take me back to get on the plane back to Port Lincoln. 

He indicated that I had the job anyway, but he said, "You know, I can't understand. You've got four children. You're very proud of them. Yeah, they've all got educated in Lincoln. Now, you're bringing this poor little five year old to Adelaide to live in Kilburn. You got any idea what it's like here? She's gonna have to go the Kilburn's school and this area is not good."

It was known that the Kilburn primary school had a poor reputation, deriving obviously the low socio economic level of the area. I heard that there were lots of kids with one parent.

I got on the plane thinking on the roll [?] away back to Port Lincoln. When I went home, I said to my wife. "I'm pretty sure I've got the job." But I also told her what the staff clerk at the Islington Workshop said about going to Kilburns School.  She looked at me and said, "Well, I went to Kilburn School. And there's nothing wrong with me." As a matter of fact, we found her report card here few months ago. She ran second. She was second to the Ducks [?] of the school in the last year when she was there. So, at any rate, she said that it would not be a problem, that she would be able to look after Roxanne. I said Okay.  

Yeah, Yeah, I seen that you know, OK. But anyway, when Nancy was well affect, you know, see, she said.

Look, don't worry about that. Yeah. Roxanne will be alright, OKI said. You sure that? Yes, she said. Don't worry about that. Roxanne will be okay.

My new job in the Islington Workshop. 

When I came over, I had researched the job. It sounded like as spoken to one person. I knew that had done the job. Yeah, he painted a good picture of it. But when I got here, it was altogether different. It was a big disappointment. 

So anyway, so when I got this job. And I knew basically while it was a patrol officer at different workshops, we used to on a shift, we would the do a around North and South round it would be too honest shifts, afternoon shift and night shift and we done 2 rounds each and we had a clock we carried round.

Each shop had a key in it. When you went in, you put the key in the and the and the tape showed you what time you're there.

And that and so that and that was. Okay yeah, this took a fit again. He is still in there, especially when in there, in the dark, over this noises and creepiness and that dark patches that. But anyway, that was like I didn't mind that, 

but the staff themselves, they used to keep telling the stories about the the Chief security officer there. And you know, they always tell me stories about him and what repetition actually, 

because as I worked with all of them, there was only one person there that I thought I had anything in common with. The rest of them, I didn't have anything in common with them, but they kept telling the story over and over and over again. And I've got that boy.

Never negative stories.

But I thought. Ohh well then I was just judge people myself, you know? Don't take any notice of what people tell me, but so anyway, but each every there was eight of us, that seven of us were security officers and he was chief security officer. Now he used to work Saturdays

and when you working on Saturdays he was there. Delete allowing you too, yes. And then your first couple of sad days, you know, we're with him. He had the work there. They will workshop at the back behind the office and we used there was hundreds of of fire extinguishers in Islington. 

During the Christmas holiday shutdown, we assessed to go and collect them or bring them back, and test them all, and refill and do whatever we had to do, then take them back, and put them in. They had to be done every year, they had to be stamped and because the fire brigade used to come in and check them and everything. 

So there wasn't done that. And so you be busy out there doing those need come out and who will talk to you in every now and then. 

But I got to like you once thought. You seemed to be, you know, quite nice to chat, but yeah. Anyway, then we had to fireboard there and there was all these alarms around the workshops, and if anyone knows a fire that press the button and it came up in the office and we are Dennis Fire engine all Dennis Fire engine and we used to go out on that and if we there was the 32nd.

Time that you had, if you didn't want the fire brigade to come in, you had to press the button to cancel it, you know.

So we would press the button, take out the fire engine and.

Usually get hand. See, they're only small fires, usually. Usually you could handle it, but then when you got there you saw it too big. Well, then you rang back and tell you to send the fibre code and that's what used to happen. And okay, but that was alright. But then Sundays with the worst shift Sunday afternoon. Cheers. The boss is sought back and the guy was an hours training on fire training. 

So he knew the place at the back of his hand, but he used to make it a bit difficult for you to learn, or he seemed to want to keep certain amount of knowledge to himself. I don't know. It's just, well, it seemed like, but that was okay.

But that was worst shift. Welcome at 4:00 on Sunday to work and having an hours training on fire. Okay that so anyway I've got used to it after a while and I'll just accepted it and went along, but I've I've always been doing things outside of outside of work and that you know.

Nancy rebuilding the girl guide in Adelaide

And so anyway, worse with Roxanne, Nancy. They gotta see. Enrolled to do ballet and tap dancing and things like the keeper, who off St and she wasn't allowed to go up.

I mean, she went from here to the to Churchill Rd. I think about three times in the whole life he was here on their own.

Oh oh forget.

She was she. But Nancy always had things to do. And but we're here two or three months, and there was a girl guide hall just a couple of streets up and it got burnt down. 

Because the girl got such as knew that Nancy was here. They rang her up and said could she helpto sort it out. Now all the God and Hope Scout halls around the place are usually run by the council.

The three novice support, but that property had been bequeathed to the Girl Guide Association, so it was private property. And they had built the guide all. On her, see.

So it was different. And, uh, the Nancy Wilson had a look around. And then the lady across the road said to her. "Well. You can't use guide hall. If you're interested, and she said, well, they've asked me to see if I could start up the Brownies. At least you know, get some interest, she said. 

Well, you can use our carport if you want to use that. If you want to start up, you can use the carport. So then Nancy looked around to see who she knew around the air. She knew a. Purse around there, she thought, would help.

Go ahead.

And so they decided to start up. And of course we had do something other Guildhall. So I went down and had looked at. It cause I was working. Shift work is so hit and. That and I said, well, it's a lot of work to be done, but we could could fix it and that so anyway she.

Ohh. Hmm.

Arranged a meeting and these people trying and there were four chaps there. That said, yeah, okay. They were prepared to help said between the five of us, we rebuilt what was burnt down and got it all up and nice. Ohh, used to go down. I had XD Falcon forward surf racks on it and I go down down to Torrance way there was a salvage place down there and pick out a bit of timber we needed and bring it back and I kept going back.

Yeah.

And forwards and all chap use speed there, he said to me. What are you doing with all this timber? Told him what was happening, said well, why didn't you say so? He said I can get to print all you want. It just let me know what you want and he said no, I'll get it for you and it won't cost you very much, he said.

Ohh.

We'll get. We'll donate it to the Girl Guides, she said. You know. So. So that's so we and we go got got girl guide going. Well, she done fantastic job. My wife, she was unreal. She got these half a dozen kids interested in the brownies. And they are all from one parent families. Ohh, just the mother and the daughter. I think and they used to come along and she used to invite them in, but they wouldn't go in there, just wait outside. But after a while. They got a bit more confidence than that when he used to go in and. She got adventures. So she formed the Rural committee and she said, well, look, you know, to keep the sky door going, we have to raise money to pay the rates and pay insurance on it.

Ohh. Yeah.

And that's not going to be easy. But she got on to the mayor. And then was Enfield council. Then she got on to the mayor and she said, well, we don't have any money. The Guildhall is gradually getting rebuilt and that that which was just can't pay the rates, he said. Ohh well, I'll see if we can. Well, yeah, let your help without paying rates and perhaps for a couple of years and you're going. So she managed to get out that way, but she had still had to raise money to ensure it.

OK.

And she done that. And of course, he is still go God biscuits. She used to get heaps of them.

If. Yeah.

And we went round someone's girl. God discuss to raise money and yeah. So, and she used her pet shows and and all different things, trading tables with a few people sat there.

Hmm.

And after a while, she got it going. She she she could always get to people. You know that they will. They liked her and once they got to know and once used to, she'd make a cake and she'd take it down there the evening and that.

All goes off walking distance.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And to the single mothers parents, they help.

So it's she gradually. Yeah, gradually got them to do that.

Hmm.

So what's used to do? Because half the kids had. And to brownies and guides. And they wouldn't have had anything for deep. He didn't, you know, she knew that.

Yeah.

Ohh okay yeah.

So she already had some Milo, and she'd make biscuits or cakes, and she'd take down and have supper before he went home. And she got the.

What's? Gathering. Is only on weekend?

And during the week during the week.

Do we ohh okay?

Not yeah, yeah. And so secretly built it up over over long time.

Ohh.

Didn't happen overnight, but but we've actually got it all going, but it was a big struggle for her trying to get the raise the money to keep it going and.

Yeah.

But that is what can I say? But she done that. And then eventually she got the girl. Guys going as well and yeah, well, unbelievable what she done. I don't think anyone knows would have been capable doing.

Ohh what the.

Honestly, she's just so she was so determined to do things.

Ohh. Yeah. Did the church offer any help?

Nothing to do with the church.

Yeah, but still, yeah.

Now, she taught Sunday school and church, and that and then the church was gradually we getting less and less people going there and less.

Yeah.

And less children.

Ohh I see.

Okay so could be like that. But we tried to keep it going. We were doing. Both. And so anyway, so that was OK. So this was the idea was Roxanne. She was doing tap dancing and ballet and and in the brownies.

Hmm.

And she was going to go up the. Guys which she did. And that was the keeper off the street.

How many hours a week the attendance on the? Um brownies guides us to us both, OK.

Ohh alright. But yeah, just around about two hours. And so anyway, she she done that and that became a baby. Then, once she started using, getting it going, she just spent all her time. She used to go around to all the second hand shops.

Yeah.

And ask them when they got a girl guide uniform of any sort.

Ohh.

To let him know.

OK.

And she going 5.

Yeah.

A couple of fillings for on that because of their parents couldn't afford to buy new new clothes for all of that. So she done that. 

She says you involved yourself very well in that, 

Restarting to work in hotel

but for me the job was very disappointing. but I was there. Had to do it and that was it. So anyway, for a few years before the Morville Racecourse, a grandstand got burnt down.

Hmm.

And they closed more verbose course and then they done the grandstand up 

and then this. These people pull top hat caterers from WA. They got the contract to do the catering there and one night the phone rang and this boat rang, he said.

Hmm.

Ohh, he said. I've been told that you have a lot of experience working in hotels and I said, yeah, well, he said on from Kate and said we're looking for that is not funny. If you be interested in taking the manager's job in 1/6, I said no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I said I could. I work shift work. I said I won't be able to do it every Saturday, but I said if I'm on afternoon shift. I said I can work from say 10 in the morning till 3:00 in the afternoon, so I have to work at.

Alright.

Four at the. Rather, it's this impact and day shift. I said, well, if I'm off, I said rice pudding on it. For not wearing, I'll do the whole time. So you know. But I said no. Definitely don't wanna manage this job. I'm just go there as a bum and went on.

Ohh OK.

Clearly did so anyway, so I started work being part time. 

They'd ring me up and I'll tell them, you know what days I was available and they always took me in. And that, yeah, that enjoyed that. That was because I was getting back into something I like doing, And it was huge it. Yeah. 

So anyway, I sat working there and then I was in the hotel up here one night and the manager had been to hospital, have his nose straightened. Got bones in the nose before that. And his wife's lovely person. And he was coming out of hospital. On the Friday. Ohh that's that's Steven it. It's my son.

So what about at the hotel only? Yeah, but getting, yeah. So he had told his wife not to, to roster anyone in his place. He would work that night and so I sound to having a quiet drink. And anyway, he didn't turn Up and there was a huge crowd. 

Yeah. And the the uh. Bar manager, he said he still respects wife. He said look, we need some help, he said. See that chap over there? He said he works down the races. He's a farm. I'm sure he would help us out.

So she came up and asked me if I would and I said yeah, okay. I got behind the bar and then he went. We got it under control and that, she said to me after when can you work again? And I said, well, why now? So I work shift work but I said Ohh I will give you a list of nights that I can work, you know cause those days have 6:00 closing.

So yeah, I knock off at I've asked forward only be for that time. So in right. So she's so well, when you're viable, you come in.

Ohh something.

I said OK, so done that. That's how I got back into the bar, but that was very hard for hotel to work in.

Ohh.

Very, very high, very different kind of right.

Yeah.

Yeah. OK.

Yeah, very rough. Yeah. But anyway, you do what you have to do when you're doing it.

The customers are very different kinds.

Ohh, they're very different. Ohh yes yes.

Yeah, it's country, country, town and yeah.

Drugs. Yeah, big city.

Yeah.

And because drugs were a big thing there, too, that sometimes you'll be small, more marijuana smoke than cigarettes, OK?

 So anyway, so that was that was my introduction to Portland 

and getting that job was good that because the job that I applied for and you know it was wasn't good. But all done, man, you do what you have to do in that and money was good because we used to work terrible of overtime because we only had the seven of us with someone booked off sick. Yeah, I knew her working. They booked off. Okay in work 12 hours instead of eight hours.

 security job is mostly after hour?

Security jobs all day he works 3 shifts.

All he worked day shift, afternoon shift and night.

OK. Yeah.

You know at the shift will rotate. Yeah, that's right. I was rotated rotating rotor.

 And so and that. So ice, that's where could help. Do the God of all. When I was on the afternoon shift or on, you know, I was off, I had, you know, a couple of days off a week in that.

Yeah.

And so. Okay so Nancy concentrated on Roxanne's. Her dedication, she is very brilliant child. She done well at school and that and she was involved with the the gods. Of course, once the Guide side, when she got older and that.

Hmm.

And see a great singing voice and from back Grade 5 on their teacher there who used to do these rock concert things.

OK.

And now I'm mostly for the grade 6th and 7th, but he used to get roxaNNE down. He used to her to sing the leads in all of them, you know, because he was such a good singer from that. And so that's early in that. 

Security Job

So I don't know we'd. If raw sales, stralian rallies and the Commonwealth Railways combined to form Australian National Rail, yeah. And of course, that changed everything 

and there was a policeman and these photos, their desk. Thompson.

Hmm.

He was set at Port Augusta at the time. Hmm. And he said to the sea. Didn't Commissioner of Ferrari said. What are you going to do about security? And he said, what do you mean? He said well, he said the southbound rallies. He said they had the consTables on on the Adelaide railway station and the detectives down at Maryland, he said. 

But they will just disappear because the Fed federal police will take over, that rightly said. But it isn't. And he said there's only eight people down there. Yeah, he said. So I suggest that I take them over and because Sally staff I will have and he said well, you do what you want to do

forget about the fire, fire, fire engine and the fire okay and the extinguishers, he said. From now on, you will be totally security officers and he said you're going to have to be trained.

And what he had done, he he trained at the. With the South Australian police force, he had done his full training there as a policeman and had moved from there to camber to Australian federal police.

Hmm.

He'd been up at Darwin then come down to Port Agusta and he's got he struck while the iron is hot. He got this job as Superintendent of Security services for Australian National Rome and so he became our boss.

Hmm.

And what he done he he put together a learning thing. For us, there was. He based it on his training in the South Australian Police force and what he learned in the federal police. And then there there. Was. Tendencies. Wait, wait. Yeah. And TEN components of it and it you've got 1, you know had you to do one at a time and then you had to pass those with him and that and then so that that took a fair bit of time to do it in the mean time.

Hey, changed what we were doing because they needed security patrols, outsiders and workshops. Because we're different places like Dry Creek and Vogue exchange down at Port Adelaide. Keswick passenger terminal. 

And that so we had to start doing security and those prices.

Does security involves like a training in physical defence?

Yeah, that's right. Yeah, we had everything. Yeah, we had. Yeah, we got trained. You know, the first of all, we had to do the all the paperwork we had to to learn or, you know, you know, I mean, we had to do a couple of days in the Adelaide courts and watching a. So we'll competent and if we had to go to court and that sort of thing, which none of us ever had to, but we had to be prepared for the training was good and that was very good.

I think.

And so there will be became. At the Islington works over here, they're having material trouble with people to things being stolen. So he arranged to have all cameras put up around with work, and we monitored the that from the main gay dissington. We weren't bloke on night shift when you were there. You could watch we all still worked out of that office down there. Hmm. That we had one block out on, he increased the staff of course, and he had. And I know when I left I had 28. Officers and London may. Then we thought had taken over the job. Never been so long. Yeah, that took a while. That so yeah, so we. That made it more interesting learning that life and and so had patrols going there. One in this N, one in the South and you just said to go in a vehicle provided you know a spotlight that and go around to the different phases in that. And so we became a stretched yeah. So anyway, there was problems. We had defined people that we're doing and it was very hard getting getting as many staff as we needed, OK. It was extremely hot, but we're vengefully got there and. Anyway, the last six years of my railway career of I was in, I was the Chief Security Officer for Syrian national laws and he was my boss.

 And then Dr Affleck was the corporate manager. And he will came under his dear 6 engines. Yeah, very interesting. Very interesting job and very hard job and he gave me a hard time. He was a perfectionist at, I believe now that. Ohh sociologically bullied by him. 

Yeah.

And I'm sure of that. But I didn't realise at the time, but he kept asking me to do things that he knew I wouldn't have been capable of.

Hmm.

I see, but I had a long career in a row as an I knew a lot of people and and when I've got in any doubt, I could always go to someone and like for onesie. 

Rang me out one day and he said, he said. Doctor Ashley wants you to do the. Budget for the next 12 months 

and I was what do you mean? Said yeah, he wants you to provide the figures, the budget figures for the next 12 months. No, it's OK. And I thought myself was so nice. And the uniforms? That's the cost of everything you know, so. 

But I was always determined mean I would never ever snapped. Say I can't do it. I'll ever go. So I went across the store section and I asked the work there. 

Could you give me an idea of how much it costs to us 12 months to supply uniforms for the security people already know that and I showed him that the doctor I had. And he left. And he said yes, he said. He said the family landed you, 

he said, look, don't you worry about it, he said. We'll do it, I said. Well, anyway, he said. Always. We've got plenty of spare time. This is in the process of selling. Their owner was gradually warning the railways down. I think that was the idea in the 1st place and that is it.

That's good.

We've got plenty of spare time with said. Leave it with me and then, just as I was leaving, one of the fellas from the accounting section come over and he said to me, what are you up to on? 

He said he said Jess is boss, has given him an impossible task. It's a, but we're going to. Do it for him. And he said, OK, I'll give you a hand and then there's another black came from the auditor section and thought they were running away because they used to send the Commonwealth ordinance from Canberra and ignore these bikes. So just sitting there would only thing.

So the three of them, I said, well, don't worry about it. When do you want it done? Throw whenever you know. Ohh I thought you have 3 or 4 weeks. And every four or five days later, he comes across. This got this all the whole lot, everything petrol or everything that was needed and got the whole up there 

and then he said to me, he said now okay, I want you to sign. This. He said. But then I also want to, in your own handwriting. To add this little writer.

Yeah.

So I wrote down what it was and everything, and then and then. Then just signed it that and so put the envelope and sent. It off if. 

And of course, a couple days later. In a phone call from him instead, LOL. 

Thank you for that. Doing that little job for us, I said. Ohh yeah, that's okay you've done well. I wouldn't have done, but anyway, he said. Doctor Affleck has been very impressed and I thought that's good. That's good to have impressed something. What?

You thought a that was the kind of job that wasn't really required.

Wasn't my job to do it. It was. It was all he kept asking to do these. Things you know. And but anyway, but. Thought for men? I know that's very confident because I knew had all these people on, you know, helping me in that. So I had no worries.

Hmm hmm.

I thought it was a joke, you know that that they asked me to do that and that so many. Right then we had a bit of trouble with getting people to run the the, the the but the.

So.

One of my work mates there got the job as the other bloke retired the old chapter when I first went there and this but he got the job and I knew straight away that he wouldn't be capable of it, but he stuck here for a while and after a while.

You.

Yep, they afflict came himself. And he said that we want you to take over.

The chief.

Yeah, petrol off this job month at all. I don't know, he said. Look, he said. I've been right through the record of all the people here, he said. And I've been through, he said. Your request said you stand out, he said. People I've spoken to that you've worked under in different other jobs, he said. No, he said. Your your reputation stands out above the rest. I said I want you to consider it. And I said, well, yes, but it's not going. To be easy. I said there's is so hard to work for and he said don't worry about that, he said. We'll look after you. So anyway, so I took the job, but done that for six years.

The first three years.

Ohh it was very very hard, but after three years I think this blood realised that you know there are so determined to do things that he started to leave me alone a bit before that he was always, always he was, you know, he was making my heart job that hard. It was unbelievable, but he sadly even me alone and we got on, we built, built it up and and it was working very well 

and. So. Ohh, I've done that until I retired and so had 28 staff and four left and 23 of them were top bloke for another 5. Well, you know, they were just and that was all. But yeah.

Did the Railway have a union?

===

Ohh yeah course yeah. Lots of unions. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Well, another story too, because when I was.

So you if you never mentioned the Union story so well.

Well, when I went to Portland, and of course I was a carriage and waggon manager, so I was a member member of Vehicle Builders Unit. OK, so when I came to Adelaide to do this job, I could either join the ARU or the officers union and wasn't quite sure which I would do that would cause. I always thought one of the on the lower end of the offices, you know, it wasn't office jobs.

In.

They obviously didn't know whether I've been there. Are you before? When it before I've got beat in the division. And there's one back there and I got to chuckle. I'll eat. He came from Peterborough. I knew him very well and he was. And they. You know what you call it? He was with Ali. He was the. Sort of ran things in the workshop. They I forget the title he had. So anyway, come to one day and he said when. You gonna join the Union?

Hmm.

And I said, I'll tell you the truth, I said. I'm I'm still making up my mind whether I'll join the a, I U or so accelerate officers union.

Yeah.

And he said Ohh Okay, so it's not how you say. Ohh no, it's a big big beat you to. Do you know to join the Union? So anyway, about four or five days later come back and he said, look, he said if you wanna continue on this job, you have. To join the Union. Now see okay. So I rang up and joined the salary officers okay.

OK.

I wasn't going to be stood over.

Did the Union play a very important role at the different?

Ohh yeah. Yes. Yes, our very strong at the yes, this is the AIU. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was it.

Mostly like um protecting.

It's too.

Wages and rights.

It's very flexible, very, very political.

Political. So naturally, not doesn't play very social role.

No, no, no. I I didn't want to go back and. Know how you.

Ohh.

I didn't have a lot of respect. For them, OK. But the salaried office is unite union. Ohh. I just went enjoyed it. So once I've done that with the they they couldn't do anything about it. So I stayed with that time. Finished.

What is?

But yeah, no. Yeah, they are. You that's yeah. They said this.

So Union at the local level, it doesn't, um, play Kendal social.

No, it's well. You know it's we had we had with the there were lots of changes when they formed Australian National Railways and that and there was lots of fights amongst the unions and different things to see who controlled his new controlled that you know.

Ohh OK.

And reply.

That that at the upper level, there may be a lot of fighting, but at the local workshop level, is it any more more social, community?

No, no. Well, now just the man said there were at Islington. I had a shop committee there and they were very tough okay there. Yeah, they've comos. Ohh.

Yeah. So even even if at Port Lincoln.

Port Lincoln was alright, mate. No worries, no worries.

You made, yeah.

Portland can. I mean, I hated leaving. That was that was the pinnacle of my rowing career at the my work. Mates were fantastic.

So I'm just trying to distinguish between. What is the role of the Union now? And we, even without Union, there is a kind of community of workers and so.

Go South. Ohh.

On will tell you what happened in Port Lincoln.

Yeah. Whether whether Union makes difference I I get this impression that Australians are very strong on the Labour Union.

No, I'm at a different saying. OK. And well. They they the loco foreman at Port Lincoln. He hadn't been out of his apprenticeship many for many years as a fitter and Turner and he got this job with the logo form and he was a bully, A ruled.

Ohh.

I'd worked under him at Peterborough, you know that. Then when they went, I went to Portland. He was the logo foreman there, running late.

Hmm.

We were working away when we used to. At Peterborough. Never disarmed without Tom, seats were held up in the office and our foreman used to film all in, and we were.

Off with instead of. Yeah.

Didn't just feel more, and that was that guy you got paid on time and everything, but we were entitled to dirt money, the different job.

You yeah.

Ohh.

So so if you're putting the toilet into a break fan, you got, I don't know, 5 pence or something and.

Yeah.

Yeah, that money for doing that, if you're working on a refrigerator car, you got. Yeah, the 4-5 pence you got extra any right? I was working with this little this my mate I two or three different mates sitting at Lincoln an hour without top parts. The weird about do our own time. It's so this this guy we've been working on cheap vans and so anyway, I filled in my time.

Ohh.

Date and I said to Kenny Kenny Smolik and he's name. So I said, well, how about dirt money, Ken? Ohh, he said no, he said. Just savers won't pay dirt money. That's what do you mean won't pay dirt? Money. Is known, said you can't put. That on your sheet. And I said, what's going on? And so I put it on. So next on the said day morning, we're working on said day and I've just came down like he was like iPhone and he red face and that many companies. Said what's this? And I said what? What he said. You're furious. So many hours. Dirt money said you don't get paid dirt money. Here I'll see. Yes, I do. And I said Ohh if I get paid. What I'm entitled to, irrespective of government Peterborough, Adelaide or Port Lincoln, he said. We won't get paid that money here. And I said, well, I will. I said I might get it this pay, but I said to pay afterwards. I'll get it because I'll be ringing up the vehicle. Builders union Adele. And I'm certainly ready said being in charity was in charge of us and we didn't have a leading hand carriage and waggon magazine, the fitter foreman fitter down the track yard, was our boss and him and they had no idea what we've done and how we've done our work.

I said.

So they were at supervisors with the eventually. After that, they sent someone from Adelaide I as a leading hand carriage and waggon Mic which made our trouble lot better because we were doing terrible the work that they'd never done there for years.

Hmm.

And so any? That I said to him as Sir. What's the problem with it? Don't you get paid with or? He was so angry with frothing at the mouth, you know, so. So, but we will get pages and said because that's what we're talking and I said anyway, I said if you're not happy about that, I said seeing you're in charge of us, I said you should have a copy of her work agreement in your office. I said. I suggest she go back and read it.

Saying but does he have any benefit by not putting The Dirty money?

No, it's just.

Ohh it's just I mean you different jobs. You're entitled to it, but he wouldn't.

Really.

He wouldn't allow it, but any recourse once I've done that and I went to that rang up and spoke to someone there. They said Ohh, of course you can talked and said well.

Hmm.

The like I've fallen here. He determined not to pay, it said. I said Ohh it's not his. prerogative, he said. No, he tell your mates he put. You put your dirt money on your time sheets, he said. And you get paid so that that from then on, we never heard anymore about it. But you never spoke to me for a long time. And you know, that was okay. But I got on well with him in the finish. But yeah, this was one of those little things. But yeah, Union looks after you sometimes. Sometimes it doesn't, but with two further concern, IOU with far more interested in politics than the Union itself, you know.

By politics, you mean like national politics?

Well, yeah, like, yeah, like that haven't that has waiting for the hmm at the front gate. Ohh, you know and they take a vote.

Yeah.

You know, you found me. Words are left, so many turned lose the right. You know, in halfway through they say. Ohh yeah, the eyes have. The Union had, yeah, and we always wrong. Yeah, but yeah, couldn't do nothing about it. Yeah, yeah, I I got anyway. Alright, join us Salary Officers union. I had no union, then I had no. Trouble with that? But yeah, yeah, but. Yeah, they do the job and satisfies but. What for what? You know the vehicle bodies union. I like that that was pretty good, but they were very good at that. So.

We got 5 minutes.  Unions

5 minutes, yeah. Yeah. Well, those turtles stories from my phone, but going back to the Australian national railways. Yeah, it was a bit of a shame really. Did it just kept getting worse and worse, you know? And they were downsized and restructuring, they would change and things. And I think the whole process was to to get rid of. You know, and they did. Eventually, after all, lifted like it was completely privatised now, and that but. You know, it was a little big learning curve, yeah.

From the from the management point of view. Was that kind of a rational?

Ohh.

Well, they were. They they were appointed by the government. When Bob Hawke was Prime Minister.

And he he he appointed these people. Hmm and and the. 

The top flight. And I just can't see his name. Yeah. Ohh. Here they are, all appointed by the Commissioner. 

There are about by the Prime Minister's Department, though they appointed all these blokes and they took over running their outlays. 

And I mean no, I remember I went to was supposed to be at to plan the next five years and my boss was away. And they sent me instead. Normally we wouldn't have gone. To a meeting like that. Yeah, 90 black and you. We're going up to his English that Bob Murdoch. He was the last of chief. Engineers. Men at Islington and then write it all were geared pavers and everything. He had nothing. But what are you? You got nothing to write, Danny said. Jess, he said they weren't. Won't take any notice of us. Isn't that tell us to plan? Is that what they're going to tell us is to they're going to tell us what they're going to do. Okay, you said we weren't. We won't be invited to every essay, and he said we just got to make that number and went and that's what it was.

And we've got three boats came out all in suits and that and put the board up and and they were time and again and do this going to do that and one instance they said Ohh now this the route passenger cars.

I we're going to have them all rewired and everything and at Islington and so the. The woman electrician Darlington got up and he said, look, excuse me, he said. But you realise there's no that there's no to guides in his only board guides and narrow guides in Islington.

There's no standard guides lying there, and so you have to take the bogies change and you have to get the bogies changed. Ohh they will do my. Just so just picked it up. And I will do him. The Portuguese city just so that's what I thought. Those rights. They didn't even know that there wasn't a a the solarium area guides in Broadgate Sterling isn't. It is not standard gauge. Ohh, they built one in. Later they built in here. They they slipped this railway station at Kilburn that used to be, you know, the one place. But they split that. And they put it in the. Okay, I think they're shamed about 3 trains in there before, before the train national broke down.

but in order to build, let's say, an efficient national high National Railway, you need to cut like a waste or yeah, less used parts.

 it was a waste of time. You try to remove and returner like fund to more needed area and so on. for that purpose. Was it necessary?

Well, that would just intent on privatising it. So it's run here now from Islington. There's about four different companies. Yeah, that run the trains and they keep changing.

And I was there. Any improvement for like like ohh users of train service?

11 the translation. Well, I don't know about that because it can never find out anything about it very much. But there, and they've got these big, long trains they. It seems to be working alright that and I thought when I left that. It was going very good because I cut the stuff right down and everything seemed to be gone. You know very well, but I'm convinced that that when you talk about you, when they form an Australian national rallies and Bob Hawke was the Prime Minister. He had been the advocate for the ACTU for years.

So he knew all those bucks and he appointed two of them to Australian National Rail, to the strongest members of union movement.

He got rid of them by appointing them into the fairness rallies. So that was rather we have clever man. I mean he. But he knew you know who he was dealing with. And that he felt well, get rid of these bugs will give him a top job. And they will fix that though. Yeah, yeah. Now, I'm very, very intriguing that yeah. So, but you know, they're there were moments in, in security like, you know, it was it wasn't there crazy. Especially when we started doing patrols outside of Islington, you know? In apprehending people and that we had no powers to rest, but we could, we could retain people until the police got. But what I used to do when I took over, I trained my blacks and I said well, you know, first thing you do is you take one step back before you take a step forward. And then there's size things up. And I said. You don't approach these people. You see these people doing things you don't apply. You just watch them call them, call him, get the police to attend this air job, to arrest them and that, and that's what we've done, OK?

Hmm. Something.

I couple of times I couldn't do anything else but to time them, you know, but never. I never had any trouble. I never, ever felt threatened. Hmm, that yeah, it was different to what I expected, but OK here.

OK, wait, we'll stop here, OK?

No, you got the about 15 minutes  attribute story? [when Stevedn was in primary school]

===

Well, Port Lincoln was never. I was always doing something in Portland, but and one night I was getting dressed to go to work at the hotel and my wife had just been to a meeting at the at the primary school committee, and the headmaster had little principle.

Yeah.

Very close. They said it had made it to get these attributes. And it didn't know how he was going to. Afford to get them. 

And then she just showed me these. There was a diamond and a square, and there were different colours and so I said for how many? She Sai. I think there's 12 in the set and I said Ohh. Yeah, that, no worries. I can do that. They don't found out like they just found out then. There was about 32 pieces in a set and. So when I went to the local form and I said look, I said and this this wife is at school teacher.

This was a used in school classroom.

Yeah. Yeah, they were using.

But the school doesn't offer.

See. No. Well, he had to. The school had to buy.

Them, but the parents have to buy pay money.

Although would have had to probably help to pay for them. But any rate? So Nancy said, do you think you could? Arrange the right these attribute blocks I just saw. Ohh though 12 in the sent that and but of course I didn't realise there was four different shapes, 4 different. There were thin and thick and they and how the different ones. So anyway, I worked it. All out and. We're just with the just done renewed the roof on a cattle van and two sheep fans and with lots of off cuts left over and some of the timber we took off wasn't too bad. And I said to my little mate, he was great, though, you know, with whether I said Ohh, I said, told Nancy. I'd make these attribute blocks, I said, but only how I'm going to get round to do. It's going to take a long. Tom and he said, well, we will work something out. They said yes, yes, say the boss. And see if we can use the wood machines on the weekend. So when I told him I was doing or when it seeing his wife was a school teacher, he couldn't. For you, it's and. I said easy. Are you going to manage it? I said, well, I've picked out a lot of off cuts from that. Those cattle. Thanks. Why I always said and some of the timber on them wasn't too bad. So I said, if we can come in here every weekend, you know, perhaps spend Saturday and here running the stuff through the wood machines and we're till we get enough, enough timber, you know. And he said, yeah, we go ahead. That's fine, I said. And I said during my lunch arrow cut some out on the bands. Or during my lunch song.

This is for how many sets, tenants, sets or 10. Not too bad, but yeah, let's see.

Where this so anyway?

Pieces.

But we have we had. Jack Henson was the carriage pipe and we had another about Vic Williams. He was a spray used to spray the trucks and that and they all wonder, but they'll Wonder Quest they found out I was doing. They all wondered to Purdue a bit to help. Yeah, you know, they were like that. And Vic said wedding and do about painting. And I said Ohh well, I thought to go and get some go and buy some paint. And I know I can get some pie also now that our gone boiling point. See, it's always spent under the belief ages underneath the bench said. We use that. I said. You're sure? He said yeah, he said. I'm just lying there. He's an old spring for you, and that's anyway. So this is the week before when on the Monday Jack Henson Carriage founder came back and he said did what paint did Vick use? Do those and I told him, he said. Well. He said they'll never draw. Said what do you mean? He said they'll never.

I said. What he's paying them more. Yeah, he said. Would you just have to get the paint off? And he said, Ohh, do them properly for you said. But that so I should have said, the vicar said. Jack says race. Ohh you still ohh praise praise and varnish over me. Said they'll stop it. So anyway, so I done that, but you could touch them, but you know, like that and Bureau. But then if you use three on the paint to come through anyway, I put them in the NI got 10 boxes, 10 empty cartons from the hotel, beer cartons hotel, and I put a set in each took him up in the school.

And then when I picked Steven up own son, he had Dobbs and blue and yellow trainose. What happened? He saw Mr Smile said I could put him in the book room now. You tell Mister Smale. Put him back in the boxes. So I said Jack Hellmann going to do this, he said. There's only one way, he said. Get a bucket of kerosene, he said. In some rags, he said. Just to watch everyone of. And drawing net, they said when you've done that, he said. He said well, I'm out and he said. No pain him for it. So that's what we're doing for that was that was suppose it took three or? Four weeks by job.

Yeah.

Can we cut all the the different sizes out and then we cut them out and then we just rubbed a bit of glass paper over it? Even so, anyway, you got his ten sets of of lifestyle. Yeah, I didn't cost him anything because. Is Jack a arranged the paint and everything and he sprayed them back on both sides and so they got their ten sets. But wow, the biggest project I've done. 

What a mess it was. You know it from sat there from just about a whole day. The square washing these attribute blocks, washing all the paint off come off quite easy with oil paint that had been there and Jack said he said we should have thrown out years ago.

He said should never have been there. They said they would not, he said. But they said that was it. Yeah, there's no sorry that. And I should tell you that when Michelle and Stephen came over to Government House to get their Queens Guides award between Scouts Award, we came over and had that they always everyone Sunday at Government House they have, you know big do there and.

Get this. What age was that? Ohh, what do you school?

That works. They would have been gone a highschool okay.

Yeah.

And they would have been in their 14 or 15, I suppose. And any night they they got awards for that. 

And halfway through the afternoon Government House, all these police cars were were flying around everywhere.

Okay, we had to go back to Port Lincoln afterwards. So we had something to eat and then packed the car up. And Roxanne was only a baby then, and we had the bassinet on the back seat. Yeah, we had to. Strap down and everything and the way we went. So on the way back in Port Lincoln and we just before we get to port of gas. So there's all these lights, flash. Sing. Yeah, that Nancy said. I think they want you to go through, I said. No, I think they want me to stop. And she said no, keep going. Keep going, I said. No, no, no, hang on. Sorry, I'll realise then that day. Then you want me to stop. So I stopped. Now we're on the window down in this copper, shaved his shotgun, he said. Don't you want to live? But what? So he shown his torch and surrounded by police.

Yeah.

And he showed his thoughts in the back and saw Roxanne in the back. And then he looked. He put the torch on Nancy and I. But what happened, though, looking for this criminal? Yeah. And he was driving XP Falcon, the same colour as marking, and they thought it was him that thought they'd. Got it, you know. And so that they didn't. No explanation, no see. At all on your way. So anyway, I'm shaking like anything like it didn't Port Agusta.

But.

Yeah, well. So I stopped at the surface surface size and fill the car up and I said, jeez, that was good. I said what's going on out there and then he told me so. He's this criminal. I've been chasing him all over SA, he said. But unfortunately for you, he had the same he's driving the same sort of car in the same colour and that. Yeah. So that was an instant that, yeah, I've done how I forgot that. Yeah. So please advise that.