Please be advised that the Committee of Management has agreed to defer the AGM until 21 October 2015.
Huge win for Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn won the UK Labour Party leadership on 12 September 2015, stunning both his fans and his critics with a huge first-preference vote of over 59%.
Corbyn’s policy preferences in such areas as investment in public housing, health and transport; support for public education and collective bargaining; and his opposition to austerity economics, are likely to find favour with many Vintage Red members.
VR Convenor Jane Timbrell sent him a message of congratulations as soon as the news came through!
ACTU campaign in Eden-Monaro
The ACTU/UnionsACT campaign in the marginal seat of Eden-Monaro has commenced.
The Campaign Office at 60 Monaro Street Queanbeyan will be staffed by the Vintage Reds between 10am and 4pm from Monday till Friday during the course of the campaign.
We will be talking to the community about this government’s threats to job security, health, education and public services.
Introduction to the Noel Butlin Archive
Members of the Vintage Reds Local Labour History group met on the 1st September 2015 at the Menzies Library, ANU, for an introductory session on the Noel Butlin Archives.
The senior archivist, Sarah Lethbridge, talked to us about the scope of the collection, which focuses on labour and business records.
Most people know that the Noel Butlin Archives live deep in storage over the Parkes Way tunnel; but in fact public access to the Archives’ 20 kilometres of records is from a sunnier location at the back of the ground floor of the Menzies Library.
August 2015 guest speaker, Steve Allday
Our Guest Speaker for the meeting on 18 August was Steve Allday from the ACT Government Project Team who addressed the meeting about the Light Rail Project.
Steve was not able to address the “political questions”, however he was able to answer our “technical/ operational questions”. It was an extremely lively session with running questions and comments from the floor.
[Image: artist’s impression of the proposed light rail, from www.katygallagher.net]
Don’s calendar: August 2015 update
Here is Don Dwyer’s summary of the best events on offer around town, including film, performance, political events and talks.
Build a better future campaign: VRs join phone banking
Vintage Reds distinguished themselves by providing sterling service in the 1st Phone Banking for the Build a Better Future campaign roll-out at UnionsACT. Thanks to Bill Book, Chris Warren & Dennis Gazlay.
July 2015 guest speaker, Ken Johnson
July’s meeting was held as usual on the third Tuesday of the month, the 21st, at 11:00 a.m. in the Rod Driver Room at the Dickson Tradies (upstairs at the Quality Hotel entrance).
Ken Johnson (Visiting Fellow at the Fenner School of the Environment & Society, ANU), works on information systems, urban geography policy and planning. He spoke on the following topic:
“Where the fuck are we & who is going to save us?”
This humorous title belies some very serious issues confronting our society!
Don’s calendar of delights: July – August 2015
Check out these as provided by Don:
9 am Wed July 22 – National Library $25 – Readers, Writers & Storytellers Festival www.aussiewriters.com.au/events 0431 860 607
24 -26 July ALP National Conference Melbourne
1 pm Sun July – National Library $20 –“My Salute to Five Bells” by John Olsen RSPV 6262-1271
6 pm Fri 31 July – “Drone” Palace Cinema (Worth checking out > Palace Golden Club www.palacecinemas.com.au $13 membership for discounts)
June 2015 guest speaker, Elizabeth Reid
Our guest speaker was Elizabeth Reid, First Women’s Adviser to an Australian Prime Minister (Gough Whitlam). Elizabeth spoke on “Maintaining the Rage!”
“During her work with the Whitlam government, Elizabeth oversaw the Australian Government’s arrangements for International Women’s Year 1975, convening the IWY National Advisory Committee. She also led the Australian delegation to the Mexico World International Women’s Year Conference, 1975, and was the Australian Representative to the United Nations forum on the Role of Women in Population and Development, 1974”. (Australian Women’s Register)