April 28, 2020
Fred Moore, a legend of our Union and the Illawarra trade union movement, is 97 and hasn’t missed a May Day celebration since he was 10 years old.
This year, with no-one being able to attend traditional May Day celebrations, the South Coast May Day Committee brought May Day to Fred’s home in Dapto, with representatives from Unions across the region bringing flags, banners and words of solidarity to his front yard.
South Western District Secretary Andy Davey erected the CFMEU Mining and Energy flag on Fred’s front lawn. South Coast Labour Council Secretary Arthur Rorris said that honouring Fred Moore was a fitting alternative to the traditional march. “Nothing gives Fred greater pleasure than marching on May Day and May Day will be with Fred today,” he said.
Fred said the ‘terrific’ tribute came out of the blue, “I didn’t know anything was on and they all came with flags and cakes and everything.”
Fred was the first life member of our Union and he’s known not only for fighting for the rights of the region’s coal miners but also his activism for women’s and Aboriginal rights.
Here’s Fred at May Day in 1957
