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 Home News General
Australia Farewells a Great Fighter for Working People06 December 2007Yesterday, family and friends of Bernie Banton said good bye to Bernie Banton at a state funeral at Sydney's Acer Arena. Many people will miss the man who reminded us about the power of ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd praised Bernie and his fight for asbestos victims. Kevin Rudd said; "Today the nation gathers together to honour a great Australian life, a great Australian hero, a hero in an age when we've all become so cynical we didn't believe there would be heroes anymore. Bernie Banton is an Australian hero. An extraordinary bloke. He would describe himself as an ordinary bloke. An ordinary bloke with an extraordinary heart who led an extraordinary life. He had a heart as big as Pharlap and a heart tempered by an iron will, a determination, an iron determination never to wallow in self pity, never just to emote and to cause tears to come to our eyes but an iron determination to act. An iron determination to bring justice to working people who otherwise would have none. And above all, an iron determination to prevail." Union members lined the way from the Acer Arena to the hearse as an "honour guard". They clapped and shouted "good on you, Bernie" as his coffin was loaded into the hearse and driven away for a private burial beside the graves of his parents. Download File: |
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© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU) |
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