Family, friends and former colleagues of Mike Dwyer (inset) attended the official opening of Mike Dwyer Reserve which faces the sea.

Seaside view reserved in honour of Mike Dwyer

The life of deceased teacher, unionist and Federation Life Member Mike Dwyer has been honoured with a reserve bearing his name. Cathy Bloch reports on the official opening on October 28.

It was one of those perfect south coast days. The sun was shining and a gentle breeze ruffled the sparkling sea. Early arrivers at the opening of the Mike Dwyer Reserve (adjacent to Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coledale) were enchanted by a couple of whales playing not far out to sea -- an exciting event on any occasion, but somehow specially significant that day. The humpback whale or birri birri is the tribal totem of the Dharawahl people on whose land the Mike Dwyer Reserve resides. We couldn't tell if those whales were humpbacks -- but their presence was enough. As the crowd began to gather a flock of pelicans soared slowly by. Then, just five minutes before the opening, a sea eagle flew past the reserve, dived into the water, caught a fish and sped away.

In the Welcome to Country, Illawarra Land Council chairperson Dootch Kennedy told us that these animals -- the whale, the pelican and the sea eagle -- are Aboriginal totems for the area. Dootch said the presence of all three of them before the opening was truly amazing and spiritually significant.It was easy to believe on this special day for a very special man -- Mike Dwyer -- Life Member of Federation and of the South Coast Labour Council, and much more.

Mike was born in 1949 in Coledale Hospital (the old miner's hospital as it is known locally) directly opposite the Reserve. In 1995, while President of the South Coast Labour Council, Mike led a 24-hour union-community picket lasting three months to prevent the hospital from being sold off by the NSW Liberal Government.

The picketers sat and slept on a tiny plot of land opposite the reserve, determined not to lose the miners' hospital -- not without one helluva fight. Mike threw himself into that struggle inspiring everyone to hang in there. Now, 12 years later, after a $5 million upgrade, the hospital remains on the headland, still standing, still serving the community. Mike died in 2001 at the age of 51 after battling cancer for 15 years and his final resting place is Scarborough Cemetery, 300m north of the reserve. Mike's father Cec Dwyer described the area bounded by the hospital, the cemetery and reserve as "a tiny triangle of Illawarra to encompass such a man's life".

Federation president Maree O'Halloran said: "Mike Dwyer acted and lived the beliefs that we often hear in rhetoric, and less often see practised. Mike acted for the common good and he worked without self interest on industrial, community and environmental campaigns.

"Mike's leadership was witnessed in all Federation campaigns fought in the '80s including primary release from face-to-face teaching, ESL disputes, pay campaigns and the need for increased staffing.

"Mike strongly advocated that the future of the trade union movement must include strong ties with community and environmental campaigns. He said that while the trade unions must influence government they should do so separate from, and at arms distance from, any political party.

"Mike was a distinguished activist and member of the Teachers Federation. I honour his commitment to public education, the Federation and his comrades in the Illawarra. The trade union movement as a whole is indebted to him."

Making the reserve

In late 2005 the State Geographical Names Board confirmed the headland in Coledale as the Mike Dwyer Reserve. The Reserve was originally a sewerage waste depot and for most of its existence remained a flat, neglected RTA dump, parking area and wasteland. Over the past two years, however, it has been completely transformed through a combined community-Council effort.

The area is now grassed, contoured, has beds of native plants and seating where people can admire the spectacular views out to sea and down the coast.

Comradeship -- fantastic sculpture

Inscribed on the waves beneath Comradeship are the words "cheerfulness, optimism, humility, passionate, idealistic, gutsy, honest, creative, surfing, fairness, tolerant, family, conversation, wit, inspiring". The final paragraph on the plaque says: "Mike contributed much to the community and was widely loved and respected for his wisdom, courage, personal warmth, good humour and generosity in all things".

Why not drive down the coast, enjoy the views, and stop at the Mike Dwyer Reserve to admire and pay your respects? Maybe have a glass of red wine while you are there. Mike would have liked that.

Cathy Bloch is a Life Member.

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