Sticks and Stones Sneak Preview - Prologue
During my life and times in local government and politics, I have always taken comfort in the well-known adage “sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me”.
I’ve been labelled throughout a long political career, but I have never taken slander or criticism to heart, or let it dampen my enthusiasm in the fight for social justice.
However, 17 sticks of gelignite detonating on the front doorstep of my family home could certainly have been far more serious than broken bones.
In the early hours of Sunday, 8 March 1971,a tremendous explosion resonated through the Sutherland Shire – a political fanatic had detonated a bomb which could easily have killed me, my wife and our two children.
The explosion occurred at 2.20am outside our main bedroom, which adjoined the front veranda, about five feet from where my wife and I were sleeping. It awoke the whole area in and around our home in Kitchener Street, Caringbah (NSW),and was heard as far away as Gymea, a couple of kilometres away.
I was a local government leader trying my level best to make urban life more comfortable for residents. My wife and children were innocent bystanders. We were dumbfounded; this murderous attempt had shocked us and caused enormous damage to our home and us personally.
After a decade of achievement in providing an infrastructure without parallel in the Shire, we were face-to-face with terrorism in practice. As well as trying to kill us, I believe it was a serious attempt to intimidate Sutherland Shire Council.
— --
The bomb destroyed the immediate entrance to our home, blew off doors and smashed windows. All the indoor and exterior vents were blown out or seriously damaged. Some internal damage occurred.
“Just as well you live in a brick house, the whole family would have been killed if you had a fibro house, the neighbours hurt too,” observed Detective Sergeant Culley.
What saved us from certain death was the solid construction of the double brick home I had built in 1949. Police investigators pointed out that most of the explosive force had ripped through the cavity wall – hence the destruction of the vents – and in the process had lost most of its power.[i]They were helpful, courteous and outstanding in analysing the explosion and its effect on us and the neighbourhood.
The news flashed over early morning radio and the street was soon full of police, ambulances and sightseers wanting to view the devastation. Senior council officers and most of my councillor colleagues also arrived.
There was a media pilgrimage as Sydney heard the news – they naturally pounced on the assassination attempt.TV cameras were on the scene early and all the newspapers came for interviews and photographs. While still emotionally shocked, we had to contend with the media seeking explanations for such fanaticism.
The event was a front-page story in all the dailies. Even editorials appeared, describing it as un-Australian, unwarranted and clearly the work of someone deranged. This is how an editorial in the afternoon edition of the Sydney Sun newspaper described the attack:
Enough dynamite to blast the side of a cliff was stacked at their front door. The careless way it was left prevented today from being the blackest day in Australian politics... Whether it was aimed at Arthur, Ray or their great-aunt Mary lessens neither the horror nor the implications. It was attempted murder in hideous style.[ii]
Within hours the news reached national press, radio and television. It wasn’t the first such attempt at political assassination in Australia – Arthur Calwell, Jim Cairns, and Percy Brookfield all felt such blows from the Right side of politics.
Questions were raised in both the Federal and State Parliaments by my two close comrades, Tom Uren and Jack Ferguson.[iii] No one could understand the ferocious attack and the callous disregard for my family’s welfare.
— —
The community response was magnificent. Former Independent Shire Councillor and retired builder Gordon Leech arrived with a small workforce to remedy the immediate damage. Don Dobie, the local federal Liberal member, attended, as did Jim Cover on behalf of the Liberal Party, and Les and Peg Johnson took over some of our daily chores and problems. Shire Clerk Athol Hill and Shire Engineer Bill Wood and wives also helped, so that we could still live in the premises.
The State Executive of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) sent a quick message. Dozens of letters, telegrams and cards arrived from friends and well-wishers.
Dawn was emotionally affected, her head having been only three feet from the explosion, so neighbours also undertook immediate chores. Our neighbours were magnificent in every way, offering counselling, friendship and food. Other family and friends came to offer support and assistance.
A police officer was posted on duty outside our home for the next week. Meanwhile, city detectives arrived seeking possible motives and suspects.
In my time as a Sutherland Shire councillor and wider involvement in ALP Party politics, we took steps that were innovative and even radical at the time, but which soon after became mainstream. However, were any such steps worthy of an assassination? Someone obviously thought so.
We had paid the price for our leadership role and involvement in local government and politics. Too often, the people who stand up for social justice and equality in our society are the targets for extreme right-wing terrorists. Regardless, some political and social issues were too important to ignore.
Plenty of evidence began to point towards the likely suspect behind the assassination attempt. The bombing was not the only recent incident the suspected perpetrator had been linked with.
Understanding the cause and outcome of the bombing requires an appreciation of how the Shire and its Council evolved, and my role in shaping it as a resident, councillor and Shire President. That is what this book is about.
This story is told through my eyes and perspective as a 92-year-old retired Labor politician and World War II veteran.
[i] “Shire president saved by one wall,” St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, 10 March 1971, pp.1, 7.
[ii] “The ballot in blood,” The Sun (Sydney), 8 March 1971.
[iii] “Govt should probe bombing, says Uren,” The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 March 1971, p.8; “MLA calls for bomb inquiry,” The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March 1971.
During my life and times in local government and politics, I have always taken comfort in the well-known adage “sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me”.
I’ve been labelled throughout a long political career, but I have never taken slander or criticism to heart, or let it dampen my enthusiasm in the fight for social justice.
However, 17 sticks of gelignite detonating on the front doorstep of my family home could certainly have been far more serious than broken bones.
In the early hours of Sunday, 8 March 1971,a tremendous explosion resonated through the Sutherland Shire – a political fanatic had detonated a bomb which could easily have killed me, my wife and our two children.
The explosion occurred at 2.20am outside our main bedroom, which adjoined the front veranda, about five feet from where my wife and I were sleeping. It awoke the whole area in and around our home in Kitchener Street, Caringbah (NSW),and was heard as far away as Gymea, a couple of kilometres away.
I was a local government leader trying my level best to make urban life more comfortable for residents. My wife and children were innocent bystanders. We were dumbfounded; this murderous attempt had shocked us and caused enormous damage to our home and us personally.
After a decade of achievement in providing an infrastructure without parallel in the Shire, we were face-to-face with terrorism in practice. As well as trying to kill us, I believe it was a serious attempt to intimidate Sutherland Shire Council.
— --
The bomb destroyed the immediate entrance to our home, blew off doors and smashed windows. All the indoor and exterior vents were blown out or seriously damaged. Some internal damage occurred.
“Just as well you live in a brick house, the whole family would have been killed if you had a fibro house, the neighbours hurt too,” observed Detective Sergeant Culley.
What saved us from certain death was the solid construction of the double brick home I had built in 1949. Police investigators pointed out that most of the explosive force had ripped through the cavity wall – hence the destruction of the vents – and in the process had lost most of its power.[i]They were helpful, courteous and outstanding in analysing the explosion and its effect on us and the neighbourhood.
The news flashed over early morning radio and the street was soon full of police, ambulances and sightseers wanting to view the devastation. Senior council officers and most of my councillor colleagues also arrived.
There was a media pilgrimage as Sydney heard the news – they naturally pounced on the assassination attempt.TV cameras were on the scene early and all the newspapers came for interviews and photographs. While still emotionally shocked, we had to contend with the media seeking explanations for such fanaticism.
The event was a front-page story in all the dailies. Even editorials appeared, describing it as un-Australian, unwarranted and clearly the work of someone deranged. This is how an editorial in the afternoon edition of the Sydney Sun newspaper described the attack:
Enough dynamite to blast the side of a cliff was stacked at their front door. The careless way it was left prevented today from being the blackest day in Australian politics... Whether it was aimed at Arthur, Ray or their great-aunt Mary lessens neither the horror nor the implications. It was attempted murder in hideous style.[ii]
Within hours the news reached national press, radio and television. It wasn’t the first such attempt at political assassination in Australia – Arthur Calwell, Jim Cairns, and Percy Brookfield all felt such blows from the Right side of politics.
Questions were raised in both the Federal and State Parliaments by my two close comrades, Tom Uren and Jack Ferguson.[iii] No one could understand the ferocious attack and the callous disregard for my family’s welfare.
— —
The community response was magnificent. Former Independent Shire Councillor and retired builder Gordon Leech arrived with a small workforce to remedy the immediate damage. Don Dobie, the local federal Liberal member, attended, as did Jim Cover on behalf of the Liberal Party, and Les and Peg Johnson took over some of our daily chores and problems. Shire Clerk Athol Hill and Shire Engineer Bill Wood and wives also helped, so that we could still live in the premises.
The State Executive of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) sent a quick message. Dozens of letters, telegrams and cards arrived from friends and well-wishers.
Dawn was emotionally affected, her head having been only three feet from the explosion, so neighbours also undertook immediate chores. Our neighbours were magnificent in every way, offering counselling, friendship and food. Other family and friends came to offer support and assistance.
A police officer was posted on duty outside our home for the next week. Meanwhile, city detectives arrived seeking possible motives and suspects.
In my time as a Sutherland Shire councillor and wider involvement in ALP Party politics, we took steps that were innovative and even radical at the time, but which soon after became mainstream. However, were any such steps worthy of an assassination? Someone obviously thought so.
We had paid the price for our leadership role and involvement in local government and politics. Too often, the people who stand up for social justice and equality in our society are the targets for extreme right-wing terrorists. Regardless, some political and social issues were too important to ignore.
Plenty of evidence began to point towards the likely suspect behind the assassination attempt. The bombing was not the only recent incident the suspected perpetrator had been linked with.
Understanding the cause and outcome of the bombing requires an appreciation of how the Shire and its Council evolved, and my role in shaping it as a resident, councillor and Shire President. That is what this book is about.
This story is told through my eyes and perspective as a 92-year-old retired Labor politician and World War II veteran.
[i] “Shire president saved by one wall,” St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, 10 March 1971, pp.1, 7.
[ii] “The ballot in blood,” The Sun (Sydney), 8 March 1971.
[iii] “Govt should probe bombing, says Uren,” The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 March 1971, p.8; “MLA calls for bomb inquiry,” The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March 1971.