By Mick Doleman - MUA Assistant National Secretary
Maritime Day is a time to reflect on our collective and individual roles in the very noble industry of seafaring. It is also time to reflect on the largely unrecognised role seafaring has played in our history, our economic development, the defence of our nation, national security and the environment
"It is a strange irony in Australia - an island nation surrounded by water that relied so much on ships and seafarers in its settlement and the opening up of regional areas before roads or rail existed and then, even in the early days of road and rail, an enormous reliance on shipping to assist in our rural and mining sectors - that shipping has such a small recognition of the role it played in the development of this country.
"In the United Kingdom, England "ruled the waves". They celebrate heroes of the sea, sea battles, sea voyages - the sea and seafaring is on the school curriculum and is an iconic part of English history.
"Yet in Australia the heroes of our country are Burke and Wills, Lassiter and Leichhardt. Our focus seems to be inland on the exploration and opening of this great nation and our exploits at sea and the role of seafaring in the development of this country are basically ignored and rarely recognised."
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