At the three months National Party school the 'lecturer', Len Donald, got pelted with rubbish by the 'students' on entry. He then announced the subject as "Diabolical and Hysterical Maternalism."
That broke us up. The us consisted of miners, wharfies, builders labourers, metalworkers, other proles, a smattering of intellectuals and some who didn't qualify in any category.
Len was one of those who would lay least claim to 'theoretical knowhow'. Sometimes reluctant 'professional revolutionaries' they helped so many begin an understanding of the need to bring theory to the class struggle.
Ernie Campbell, a great pisspot, told me once how he nearly went to work in a circus on his return from 3 years in the C.P.S.U. Higher Party School in preference to 'Party work'. Ernie wrote 'A HISTORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR MOVEMENT', a small booklet that educated thousands of militant workers and helped make revolutionary fighters of them.
Lennie lived on corn beef and sweet sherry. There is a hilarious story of a 'Party party' in the days of the grog shortage where (obtained through some mysterious 'Party contact') the staple brew was some embalming fluid from the then famous 'Pyjama Girl' corpse. Leavened by cordial supplied by Betty Reilly.
Years ago at the headquarters in George St., Reilly and I sat at the back of a meeting with Len Donald. His diet of sweet sherry and the pyjama girl had caught up with him. His ulcers were giving him buggery. Parked under his scat were two full and one empty bottle of milk. Clutched in his hand was a half full bottle.
Reilly: "What's with the fuckin' milk Donald?".
Len. "Well, through long experience I have found out that after about seven pints I start to crack a fat." Pause. "But don't worry Bet, I'm only on the second."
The larriken leaders (some would insist on 'non-leaders' today) of that time were imbued with a spirited devotion to Socialism that would leave their Johnny-come-lately critics of past practices for dead. They taught me heaps even though there wasn't a decent martyr among them.
From what I know about martyrs, they seem to have been noted for their good works and deeds. After they're dead, the ruling class obscures their anti-bourgeois character and canonises them.
Vladimir might have said that. Then they're put up as some kind of example for the masses to follow.
Not a bad way to falsify history.
Betty Reilly always said,. "A fuck's a fuck and's got nothin' to do with Marxism."
That broke us up. The us consisted of miners, wharfies, builders labourers, metalworkers, other proles, a smattering of intellectuals and some who didn't qualify in any category.
Len was one of those who would lay least claim to 'theoretical knowhow'. Sometimes reluctant 'professional revolutionaries' they helped so many begin an understanding of the need to bring theory to the class struggle.
Ernie Campbell, a great pisspot, told me once how he nearly went to work in a circus on his return from 3 years in the C.P.S.U. Higher Party School in preference to 'Party work'. Ernie wrote 'A HISTORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR MOVEMENT', a small booklet that educated thousands of militant workers and helped make revolutionary fighters of them.
Lennie lived on corn beef and sweet sherry. There is a hilarious story of a 'Party party' in the days of the grog shortage where (obtained through some mysterious 'Party contact') the staple brew was some embalming fluid from the then famous 'Pyjama Girl' corpse. Leavened by cordial supplied by Betty Reilly.
Years ago at the headquarters in George St., Reilly and I sat at the back of a meeting with Len Donald. His diet of sweet sherry and the pyjama girl had caught up with him. His ulcers were giving him buggery. Parked under his scat were two full and one empty bottle of milk. Clutched in his hand was a half full bottle.
Reilly: "What's with the fuckin' milk Donald?".
Len. "Well, through long experience I have found out that after about seven pints I start to crack a fat." Pause. "But don't worry Bet, I'm only on the second."
The larriken leaders (some would insist on 'non-leaders' today) of that time were imbued with a spirited devotion to Socialism that would leave their Johnny-come-lately critics of past practices for dead. They taught me heaps even though there wasn't a decent martyr among them.
From what I know about martyrs, they seem to have been noted for their good works and deeds. After they're dead, the ruling class obscures their anti-bourgeois character and canonises them.
Vladimir might have said that. Then they're put up as some kind of example for the masses to follow.
Not a bad way to falsify history.
Betty Reilly always said,. "A fuck's a fuck and's got nothin' to do with Marxism."
