Upload
freemantlespray
View
217
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8/12/2019 Fremantle Spray Newsletter
1/12
Fremantle SprayA newsletter from Fremantle International Seafarers Centre
Greetings from the Editor
Hello to all our readers. This is our first newsletter and we hope that
you find it informative and enjoyable. This edition will be the first of
many to follow on a regular basis covering local, national and
international maritime news.
Last month, at a ceremony at the International LabourOrganisation(an agency of the United Nations) in Geneva, our Centre was
declared winner of the International Seafarers Centre of the YearAward for 2014. News of this earth-shattering achievement has
been received by the hardworking staff and dedicated volunteers of
the Centre with great excitement, gratification and humility. It was
actually the fourth consecutive year Fremantle had been shortlisted
for the prestigious award, so it was fourth time lucky you might
say.
Of course, sharing in this award with us are all our wonderful
maritime colleagues and supporters including Fremantle Ports, the
local shipping agencies and members of the Fremantle Port
Welfare Committee.
Not to forget the most important people
of all, the worlds hardworking and
underappreciated seafarers who so
generously share their lives with us.
Continued page 2
Inside
2Huge honour at ILOawards
4Visit to SS Southampton
5Col Brown appointedSailors Societyrepresentative
6Planning sessions Vision 20:20 workshops
7Michaels HarmonyChampion Award
8Abdul named Volunteerof the Year
9Stella Maris Patrick andSister Mary
11One remarkably braverescue
12Anti-slavery campaign
1
8/12/2019 Fremantle Spray Newsletter
2/12
We are not going to rest on our laurels! Such awonderful international honour requires that we
strive to continue to improve our welfare services to
the visiting crews - many of whom are in real need
of friendship, spiritual comfort and practical
assistance. Accordingly, we have scheduled over
the months of May and June, four planning
workshops in which all staff and volunteers are
invited to participate. Other key maritime
stakeholders will also join us for what we hope will
be lively, interesting, frank and visionary sessions-aimed at helping us more authentically and radically
respond to St Matthews call [35:25] to welcome and
love the stranger visiting our shores.
Finally, from a personal perspective, I am delighted
that I have joined the Fremantle staff as Director of
Welfare & Justice where I will work closely with
Father Dennis and Centre manager Ann Robinson. I
look forward to spraying many more newsletters in
the years to come. Keep the faith.
- Colin Brown
Greetings from the Editorcontinued
Father Dennis, Ann Robinson and
Colin Brown at the ILO awards.
Huge honour at InternationalLabour Organisation
It was a great thrill for Fr Dennis and Ann Robinson,
when present at the ILO Geneva, to hear announced
before a packed forum of representatives from all
shipping nations of the world, and the winner
is...Fremantle, Australia! Even Dennis was
speechless ( for a short time). And our hearty
congratulations goes to the other very worthy
seafarers centres from Germany, South Africa,
Ukraine and Thailand that were also shortlisted for
the International Seafarers Centre of the Year
Award. For more detail visit :
http://seafarerswelfare.og/news-and-media/winners
2
8/12/2019 Fremantle Spray Newsletter
3/12
Australian Governmentat Geneva awards
Also present at the ILO on the evening of the
Awards ceremony was our good friend Allan
Schwartz from the Australian Maritime Safety
Authority (AMSA).
Allan was there representing the Australian
Government at a meeting on the Maritime Labour
Convention (MLC) now nine months in force.
Allan kindly released a national media report
announcing that Fremantle had won the prestigious
award.
AMSA is responsible in Australia for overseeing the
operation of the MLC, called the Seafarers Bill of
Rights.
Meeting with ISWANThe International Seafarers Welfare & Assistance
Network (ISWAN) were the sponsors of the 2014
International Seafarers Welfare Awards.
We are very grateful to them for assisting with our travel
costs to attend the presentation ceremony. We had the
good fortune to meet with the organisations
hardworking Executive Director Roger Harris who, on
congratulating Fremantle, said, The awards recognise
excellent achievement in maritime welfare and they
inspire others to do more for the wellbeing of seafarers.
Roger made the interesting point that, Fifty six
countries have now ratified the MLC and we look
forward to another major maritime nation, China,
ratifying in 2014. An increasing percentage of visiting
seafarers are now from China.
ISWAN operates a 24 hour multilingual helpline free for
seafarers around the world- found at
www.seafarershelp.org/
Dennis, Ann, Col & Allan Schwartz with the award.
Seafarers toast the Flying Angel Fremantle
For an interesting video on the critical maritime
role AMSA carries out in Australian waters visithttps://www.amsa.gov.au/about-
amsa/corporate-information/index.asp
3
8/12/2019 Fremantle Spray Newsletter
4/12
For over 70 years the Fremantle Flying Angel Club has been a joint
venture of the Sailors Society (SS) and the Mission to Seafarers. For
some time the Sailors Society has played a low key role in the life of the
ministry but it is expected that this will now change.
Dennis and Col had the pleasure of meeting with Stuart Rivers, the CEO
of the SS based in Southampton, just prior to Easter. Our long overdue
family reunion saw the exchange of some stimulating insights, ideas and
possibilities and we look forward very much to SS becoming a much more
active partner in our plans for the future growth and well being of thecentre.
We visit the Sailors Society
in Southampton
The Clubs big anniversary in 2016In 2016, the Club will be celebrating its 50 years of service in the present
location. In the next few months we will be meeting to start planning for the
landmark occasion. Some good ideas have already been floated but it is too
early to go into specifics.
As mentioned above, there has been a combined active ministry to seafarers
for 70 years in Fremantle. But before that, the Fremantle Sailors Rest cared
for seafarers visiting the port from as early as 1893. This means that aministry to seafarers has existed at Fremantle for over 120 years! And the
labour of love continues.
Founders son drops inThe inspiration and driving force behind the construction of our existing
building was the late Rev Chris Chetwynd. Chris was the Clubs
manager/chaplain from 1960 to 1968. His framed photograph hangs on
the wall at the entrance to the Club. Late last year, unannounced, a
person dropped into the club with a striking resemblance to the
photograph on the wall.
The visitor introduced himself as Phil Chetwynd, the son of the Rev Chris.
Phil was on a holiday from the UK. Many photographs were taken and
stories shared in the short time available to Phil before he left. He
promises to return one day and spend more time with us.
And on a sadder note, the Rev Terry Ranson, another loyal Club chaplain
who served from 1979 to 1991, passed away this week. Part of the Clubs
upstairs accommodation section is named the Ranson Wing in honour of
Terrys contribution. May God grant him eternal peace and joy.
4
8/12/2019 Fremantle Spray Newsletter
5/12
Col Brownappointed asrepresentativeThe Sailors Society, founded in 1818 in the UKwith chaplains working in many ports around theglobe, has appointed the editor its representativein Australia.
The Club welcomes this initiative. So the editorwill now wear two caps - one as Director ofJustice & Welfare for the Flying Angel Fremantleand the other for the Sailors Society in Australia.Both fit very comfortably.
Anweiser serving in the shop
A team ofmany talents
At present we have over 30 good
souls (employed and volunteer)
working at the Club to make the lives
of seafarers a happier one.
Our personnel bring many skills and
talents to the teams efforts. For
example, we have volunteers with
credentials in hospitality, air hosting,
catering, management, IT, nursing,
counselling, retailing, engineering,
accounting and several trades,
including electrical.
We even have a current seafarer Ryall
Rodricks, generously volunteering his
time when not working at sea.
Remarkably, the staff members speak
between them some sixteen different
languages - much appreciated by the
multinational crews that we greet and
care for.
Staff designated newpositions
It has been announced that there has been an
update of job titles for the centre.
Dennis will serve the club as Chief Executive
Officer (and chaplain), Ann Robinson as
Manager of Operations, Michael Kitafuna as
Senior Ship Visitor, Carolyn Szymanowicz as
Administration Officer, Jodi Craig and Penny
Blaskett will share the Evening Manager
position, Sandra Norman the Purchases Officer,
Ryall Rodricks the Seafarers Representative
and Anweiser the IT Support Officer.
It seems that there will be no wage increases
accompanying the new titles, only unimaginable
eternal rewards that await all in heaven!
5
8/12/2019 Fremantle Spray Newsletter
6/12
Carolyn (L) and Jodi (R) preparing meals
Planning sessions Vision 20:20 workshops
Alec Meyer, former General Manager of Commercial Operations with Fremantle Ports, is working with the staff
in organising a series of workshops over the months of May and June.
The workshops will draw upon the input and expertise of the Flying Angel staff, outside maritime sector people
and former and current working seafarers to set in motion plans for the future improvement of the club and its
welfare services.
All look forward to what hopefully will be productive and enjoyable workshops. The club is very fortunate and
extremely grateful to have Alec on the bridge.
Planning sessions, to be led by an outside facilitator, will be held on the 29 May and 5, 12, 19 June 2014 at the
Club.
6
8/12/2019 Fremantle Spray Newsletter
7/12
Michael with Archbishop Roger
Michaels Harmony Champions Award
Our senior ship visitor extraordinaire Michael Kitafuna, has received a thoroughly well
deserved award, presented last month on Commonwealth Day, from Archbishop Roger Herft
in St Georges Cathedral Perth. Michael has been honoured with the 2014 Harmony
Champions Award in recognition of the significant contribution made to cultural diversity
in WA through a commitment and dedication to volunteering. The hundreds of seafarers
Michael warmly greets each week will say Amen to that.
7
8/12/2019 Fremantle Spray Newsletter
8/12
Abduls timely award
Volunteer of the YearAnd yet another award was bestowed last month on
one of our volunteers, the popular Abdul Kanani.
There is nothing that Abdul cannot do - serving in the
shop, driving buses, welcoming seafarers and carrying
out a whole range of handyman jobs around the club,
including patching up the roof to stop the leaks; Abdul
does it in style and with a smile.
He gratefully received his award from Bishop Kay
Goldsworthy at the Clubs AGM for being chosen
Volunteer of the Year.
Congratulations Abdul - what a wonderful contribution
to the life of the centre you are making. Next time you
go up to fix the leaks, as award winner you can now
shout it from the rooftops!
Abdul with Bishop Kay
New seafarersrecovery roomneededAt any one time, we have seafarers staying
with us who are recovering from
operations, illnesses or injuries. One of the
downstairs rooms is being used as amakeshift recovery ward and we wish to
convert this space into a modern medically
well equipped recovery room for those
seafarers in need of extra attention, care
and rehabilitation. The project will be
expensive but very worthwhile so the
search for funding has begun. We will be
asking our funding supporters to dig deep-
so fingers crossed.
8
8/12/2019 Fremantle Spray Newsletter
9/12
Deacon Patrick Moore, our good friend at Stella MarisFremantle, was happy to hear of our Clubs success inGeneva. Patrick very kindly wrote a testimonialsupporting our nomination last year.
Indeed, Patrick had exciting news of his own. Hiscolleague Sister Mary Leahy, legendary ship visitor forStella Maris based in Sydney had sent Patrick a photo ofher trip to Rome. In the photo, Mary is gifting to PopeFrancis a seafarers life jacket and inviting him to visitAustralia (or more likely our ports, knowing Mary).
One wonders whether life jackets were around forseafarers/fishermen in Peter and Jesus day? Probablynot, if one takes the extreme anxiety of the disciples inMark 4:35-40 at face value. Bravo Mary- the legendgrows!
Stella Maris Patrick and Sister Mary
Dr Phillip Martin
one great supporterHelping with the planning for thenew seafarers recovery room is DrPhillip Martin.
Phillip has specialised in aviation,marine, diving and hyperbaricmedicine for over 35 years.
Since 2006, he has been theMedical Director of International
Aero-Medical Services providingmedical and repatriation services,particularly to crews frominternational vessels requiringhospitalisation in WA.
We have been blessed to have Philwork so closely with us over theyears - one of the great championscaring for injured and sick merchantseafarers down on their luck.
Dennis represents the club
locally and nationallyAs mentioned previously, the Australian MaritimeSafety Authority is the key player in maritime mattersin Australia.
Last year, Dennis attended an AMSA hosted forum inSydney, aimed at bringing the nations shippingagents together to better understand the implicationsof the coming into force of the Maritime LabourConvention.
Now freed from parish duties, Dennis has recently
joined the Australian Seafarers Welfare Councilwhich meets four times a year.
The Federal government has commissioned thisCouncil to promote the development and delivery ofwelfare services to seafarers visiting Australian ports.
Dennis is also secretary of the local Fremantle PortWelfare Committee, chaired by AMSAs wellrespected and very capable Capt Reza Vind. Thesemeetings of the local port welfare committee serve asa pivotal contact and information sharing platform forFremantles maritime family.
Sister Mary with Pope Francis
9
8/12/2019 Fremantle Spray Newsletter
10/12
Latest conference on
seafarers welfarePresentations by maritime welfare practitioners at a recently
held conference at Hull University, UK titled, The Health and
Welfare of Seafarers: Past, Present and Future are well
worth reading.
For a coverage of the conference papers visit
http://seafarers2014.wordpress.com/summaries
Important forum inFremantle in JunePlease mark this date in your diaries. AMSA is hosting a free
forum examining how well the MLC is working since
becoming law, and input on how the Convention has affected
the delivery of welfare services in the West.
The forum is intended for ship owners, managers, agents of
ships, port personnel and those involved in providing care for
visiting crews.
The editor will be giving a presentation on the work of the
Flying Angel Fremantle locally and nationally in one of thesessions.
Copies of the program can be obtained from Ann Robinson at
To register (no cost) visithttps://wired.ivvy.com/event/SSDDVD
Tackling bullying and
harassment at seaA n important new online video and training workbook has
been launched to help educate crews to identify incidents of
bullying and how to address it. The video emphases that the
safest ships are often where teamwork is central and crew
members are judged on their ability to do their jobs, not by
their religion, nationality, colour, age,gender or sexual
orientation. The video has been subtitled in numerous
languages.
It can be downloaded from www.nautiilusint.org
10
8/12/2019 Fremantle Spray Newsletter
11/12
The following articles can be found on the ISWAN
website at www.seafarerswelfare.org/
Port levies on ship visits to help welfare
workers- Dr Olivia Swifts presentation.
Seafarers salary survey.
New measures to protect abandoned
seafarers.
Latest on piracy attacks.
The aftermath of cyclone Haiyan
(Philippines). The Maritime Labour Convention six
months on, by Dr Cleopatra
Doumbier-Henry.
The following articles can be found on the ITF website
atwww.itfglobal.org/
Seafarers win minimum wage case.
Flags of Convenience campaign of fifty years continues.
A message to seafarers regarding their right to contact the ITF.
The Slave Free Seas campaign- opposing unjust practices akin to modern day slavery.
One remarkably brave rescueRecently, a few kilometres off the Fremantlecoast, a seafarer on an oil tanker went over-board, plunging from a considerable heightinto the Indian Ocean.By the time the ship had turned to search forhim, a husband and wife fishing in a smallboat managed to locate the almost drowningseafarer.
In attempting to drag him into their boat thewife fell out of the boat and could not swim!The husband somehow managed to get bothwife and seafarer safely into the boat as theship neared.Crew members watching from the bridgewere astonished to witness the rescue,articularl as two shark fins circled
the fishing boat during the rescue!We think the wife should receive theGood Samaritan on the water award,for bravery.
Interesting topics on the web
Putrid on-board conditions revealedby AMSA inspections
11
8/12/2019 Fremantle Spray Newsletter
12/12
Anti-slavery campaignRecent headlines have covered leaders of industry (including WAs Andrew Forrest ofFortescue Metals Group) joining forces with church leaders from the Catholic, Anglicanand Islamic faiths to expose and fight on a global scale the hideous practices of whatamounts to modern day slavery. The modern definition of slavery covers people whoare used against their will by human traffickers and slaveholders for their own profit.Sometimes those exploited are hidden behind closed doors; and sometimes they arehidden in plain sight. They are victims of forced labour or forced relationships unable to
escape from the situation. Visitwww.iarc.asn.au/for an excellent article on this form ofabuse.
The International Transport Federations Slave Free Seas campaign referred to abovehas thrown a light on some dark and nasty practices involving those who work at sea-where mariners are unpaid, abused, exploited and virtually held as work hostages. InNew Zealand presently, the ITF reports the initiation of legal action claiming some NZD30 million in unpaid wages for fishers in the region. The matter is before the NZparliament as well.
Sea Sunday celebrationsSea Sunday comes around once again, this year to be celebrated on 6 July 2014. The service will
be held at the Wesley Uniting Church, Fremantle opposite the post office. The Victoria Park Brass
will be participating in the celebration service. Then refreshments will be served back at the Flying
Angel Club. Everyone is welcome to join us. Lets make the effort for the seafarers.
12