Sue Bull
The Eureka Stockade at Ballarat on December 3, 1854, has become the most celebrated rebellion in Australian history. Anyone who considers themselves as progressive sees it as a decisive event in the development of democracy within this country.
But both the event and the Eureka flag have been adopted by a broad political spectrum of people. Right-wingers like Professor Geoffrey Blainey and the National Front hail Eureka's call for national sovereignty, while left-wing unions have used the Southern Cross flag in their logos since it was adopted by the Builders Labourers Federation.
In Victoria at the moment, it seems everyone wants to be part of the celebrations. There are conferences about the meaning of Eureka and its legacy, there will be marches and union picnics, songs will be sung and the legend will be redeveloped in a hundred different ways.
While all of this frantic activity unfolds, Paul Glenning and several of his friends will be taking part. They also consider that they are heirs of the Eureka tradition. They don't exaggerate its achievements but certainly they believe it's important to take a stand against injustice. The hardy band of seven is preparing to launch a new branch of the Socialist Alliance in Ballarat and already they've had a lot of support.
Brett is a union steward for the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). When he first came to Ballarat from Rockhampton only seven months ago, he was a research scientist. But work opportunities and cash were short and Brett's friends in the union movement needed people who had the guts to stand up and be counted. So, before he knew it, Brett was elected as a CFMEU steward on a building site.
Brett says: " I reckon that the true significance of Eureka is in the internationalism and solidarity that it represented. Here you had groups of workers and adventurers from all over the world who were prepared to unite and take a stand against injustice. One- hundred-and-fifty years later, we're still all doing the same thing. In Australia, at the moment, you don't get killed for taking a stand but the jailing of Craig Johnston for defending workers' rights shows that we've still got a long way to go."
But Ballarat doesn't have to import its radicals; Trevor Grenfeld grew up in Eureka Street and used to play in the Eureka Stockade as a kid. Trevor was a militant postie for many years. He found himself out of a job after new procedures regarding how many letters had to be sorted per minute were used to sack union activists. These days Trevor is also a proud CFMEU member and he believes that Eureka represents the age-old struggle of workers fighting against the rich and privileged. "The lesson for us now", he says, "is that we have to be reformed and re- invigorated. We've got to get politically organised and teach the young about the lessons of history so that we can unite and move forward."
Simon Rawson and Erin Cameron couldn't agree more. Simon is the only member of the Ballarat Socialist Alliance who is under 20 years of age and Erin is currently the only woman member. Each of them is convinced that as successive conservative governments crack down on unionists, working women and young people, more people are looking for an alternative.
"That's the thing about our members", says Erin. "We've all had experiences that have led us to believe that social change comes about when you join together and campaign about issues that really affect ordinary people. For instance, John Addicott, one of our retired members, left the ALP in disgust because he no longer believed that it would do anything to help workers or battlers. Our other two members, Ian Close, a long-time socialist, and Adam Bowers, a single father, are also keen to hit the streets and campaign under the Socialist Alliance banner."
No mean feat in a town like Ballarat — stamping ground of the likes of George Pel and Steve Bracks. Ballarat is the biggest and most conservative Catholic diocese in Victoria. Socialist Alliance policies such as defending abortion on demand and the rights of gay men and lesbians will find it hard to gain a sympathetic ear.
Erin thinks even this is changing. Brett agrees and says, "whenever we've gone out on the streets with Green Left Weekly or with petitions against the war in Iraq, for example, we've received a great response. Many people in Ballarat are totally against the war and they're very pro-refugee. Twenty-five people showed up recently to our film showing of Michael Moore's Roger and Me. I really don't think it's going to be hard for us to get a hearing."
So if you're thinking of heading to Ballarat for the December 3 dawn service, the commemoration of the troopers' attack on the stockade, keep an eye out for the Socialist Alliance Ballarat banner. Behind it will be a small, sturdy crew of fighters, rebels and idealists — the true spirit of Eureka.
From Green Left Weekly, December 1, 2004.
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