Petition: Parramatta Female Factory

The Parramatta Convict Female Factory we see today is the earliest convict women's site in existence in Australia. It was a Governor Macquarie initiative. Of the 24,960 transported women an estimated 9,000 went through the factory system of which approximately 5,000 went through the Parramatta Female Factory. If this is multiplied by the generations and number of children, this means that an estimated 1 in 5 to 1 in 7 Australians are related to the female factory women.

This factory predates all but 3 of the UNESCO world heritage listed items. It needs heritage preservation. Given that there are only 2 identified images in national collections of these women and few objects provenance to these women directly the site is even more critical to understanding the experience of these women. The third class sleeping quarters and turnkey's apartment with the 2 Greenway buildings are the last intact buildings on the mainland relating to convict women's incarceration.

There is an application by state government - Health for a 1.5 Million dollars is to be spent for a 'temporary' IT storage solution on an 1825 Convict Female Factory third class sleeping quarters and Turnkeys apartment building - now known as building 105.  Although the S60 application has not yet been approved the building has been cleared out in preparation for installation of an IT data room for the Cumberland Hospital.  This current development is an adjunct to IT data storage already installed in an adjacent building now adorned with ugly air conditioning ducts and cooling fans.

If you are interested in our folk traditions and in preserving our heritage please add your name to the petition below.  Our current target is 5000 names which would be a voice for each of the estimated number of women who went through the factory.

Urgent action is needed to stop this desecration of our national heritage.This is just the first step in returning the Parramatta Female Factory to the people and creating a living memorial to the thousands of convict women and children incarcerated in such institutions.

If you want more background on female factories and Parramatta in particular there is also a link below.

Female Factory Parramatta Action Group links:

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/savethefemalefactory/0/2

http://femalefactoryprecinctactiongroup.wordpress.com/

https://sites.google.com/site/convictfemalefactories/

ACTU: Unions and Qld Flood Appeal

On behalf of all Australian unions, ACTU President Ged Kearney expressed sadness and condolences over the loss of life and the destruction of homes and workplaces by this unprecedented natural disaster.

The ACTU has initiated a union-wide fundraising drive by donating $10,000 to the Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal, and has called on Australia’s 2 million union members and their families to dig deep.

"Apart from the tragic loss of life and widespread havoc, the floods pose a serious direct threat to the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Queensland workers living in the affected areas and indirectly to the state and national economies," Ms Kearney said.

"The thoughts of the entire union movement goes out to the victims at this time. There are thousands of our members who have lost their homes and possessions, whose livelihoods have been devastated, and some who may have lost friends or relatives.

"Australian unionists have a long and proud history of helping their fellow workmates in times of natural disaster. It is at times like this, in the face of incredible adversity, that our national character of caring and sharing shines.

"We can again take pride in the dedication and hard work of union members in emergency services, healthcare, the community sector, media covering the events, and others involved in the disaster."

The ACTU will initiate a union-wide approach by making a $10,000 donation to the Premier’s Relief Appeal.

"We also encourage union members to take up a collection in their workplace and for employers to match whatever is raised."

Donations should be made to the Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal by phoning 1800 219 028 or visiting the website at http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

Catch the Green Music Train!

All Aboard! 2011 Green Music Train Sat 15 Jan Sun 16 Jan

Labour Photo of the Year 2010

Labour Photo of the Year 2010: Gerardo Correa

Farmer workers early in the morning, waiting to start the Pilgrimage for Freedom, around 50 km to walk from Leamington to Windsor in Ontario, to claim for rights, on Thanksgiving 2010.

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Corporate schools plans?

So the Gillard government plans to make schools autonomous (The Australian, 30 Dec).

This brings back memories of a plan by the Queensland Government in 1997 to do just the same, using the Orwellian term “Leading Schools”. A very broad coalition of teachers, parents, educators and community members defeated the plan. We showed, using the state government’s own well-documented website, that there was not a shred of evidence that school-based management improves education for children.

The main impetus for the plan then was pressure from big business to destroy the organisational strength of teachers. A scan of the Business Council of Australia proposals for Australian education from the 1990s shows detailed plans for school-based management as well as the destruction of teachers' unions.

It appears they are at it again! This time it is the Federal ALP Government dancing to their tune.