Happy new Year!

To celebrate our Credit Union turning 50 this year on 10th October 2013.

We need help, we are looking for photos of the Hunter United Credit and its staff at Newcastle BHP, it is now 50 years since they began,

We wish to share any stories, anecdotes, pictures and recollections of our credit union. Especially its early times… in the good old days! We are excited about what we may discover and think it is a wonderful way to bring our members and community together.

The HUCU helps us every year with the BHP Reunion, it would be great if you have any information that can help,

Regards…………Aub


Member Contributions/Member Competition – we are very much looking forward to discovering and sharing our history with the community, but initially we need help. On the back of our Member competition which featured on the front page of the newsletter and also on the homepage of our website, we are after contributions………..whether it be stories, an old membership card, photos etc. from the good old days. I would ask you if the NIHA or indeed your many contacts would have something to contribute, old credit union photos’, perhaps stories of their first loan, we are interested in any contributions no matter how large or small. There is a special gift for all contributions as well as a major prize of an iphone5 for the most valuable contribution.

Again thanks for your time Aub, and I appreciate your passion for our history, we did discuss many other opportunities, but I think for now if we are to focus on the above that would be a great start to what will be a busy and exciting year.

Kind Regards,


Greg Ferris
Manager, Marketing & Partnerships
Hunter United Credit Union Ltd
130 Lambton Road, Broadmeadow NSW 2292
P: (02) 4941 3809 F: (02) 4956 2348
M: 0408 135 877
E: greg.ferris@huecu.com.au

From: Aub [mailto:obisan@bigpond.com]
Sent: Saturday, 16 February 2013 6:43 PM
To: letters@theherald.com.au
Subject: One Ladies priceless tale.


Sir,
It was with great interest that I read Mike Scanlon story on Saturday, the wonderful story of Mrs Pauline Lobb, daughter of a “Man of Steel” as I read the story it reminded of my
Grandfather Jimmy Massie who started at the BHP on the 2nd June 1915 and worked there for 37 years.

Yes, there are many historic objects and as Bob Cook, President of NIHA points out, very rare, but these are only material things but the real value is the people and the stories they tell,
When Mrs Lobb spoke of her Mummy and Daddy so sweet. She made me feel very proud to belong to the Steel Family

Not too long ago, Mr Scanlon wrote of Walter Searles another BHP Steel Man who is 91. In September it will be 14 years since the BHP closed in Newcastle and as time passes
we should never forget the people who lost their lives there not forgetting those who were badly injured never to fully recover they helped build this great country we call Australia.
It’s not about the Company but the people who worked and the Unions who fought for better OH&S laws to protect their workers.

The BHP in Newcastle is gone forever but these stories must be preserved forever, I congratulate the Herald and Mike Scanlon for making this possible.

The Brooks family had 125 years at Newcastle BHP, I really hope the Mrs Lobb can make it to this year’s BHP Reunion, and I love the Letter opener too.

Aubrey Brooks


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BL5FKZcIpg

NBN 3 TELEVISION<

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2...versations

ABC RADIO,

Conversations with Richard Fidler draws you deeper into the life story of someone you may have heard about, but never met.

Aubrey Brooks Newcastle BHP 38Years, his father 42 years and grandfather 37 years from 1915 to 1999, his brother "Barry" was there for 8 Years.

Total years of service at Newcastle BHP Steel Works is 125 years for the Brooks Family.

Please be advised that donations can be made at any Hunter United Branch or cheques made payable to 'The Steelworkers Memorial Fund' contact Aubrey Brooks, 0249845264

Memorial to workers who lost their lives at the Newcastle Steelworks
Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 02:58 PM
Contributed by: aub Newcastle Industrial Heritage Association is launching a project to produce a
permanent memorial to workers who lost their lives at the Newcastle Steelworks and
related steel industries between 1915 and 1999.
It is proposed that the suitably respectful large memorial will be located at a
prominent location in the vicinity of the steelworks site, and we are currently
discussing options with stakeholders.

THE MUSTER POINT....Wheel Chair Friendly...Chairs Provided....Easy Walking...There are no Toilets there.

Commencing in July 1998, Squires’ work was not complete until September 1999 – such was the time needed to win support for the project from a number of departments within BHP, onsite contractors, to gain DA and BA approval from the local council and to also fabricate what is a very large structure. Made from more than 70 tonnes of BHP steel, the eight-metre high sculpture (measuring 8m x 12m x 8m) is an imposing structure. The exterior has a stylised representation of the BHP skyline encased within the design element of a BHP maintenance shop. Inside there are a number of references to the people and place of the steelworks such that as former employees visit with their family they can take them on a tour of their working lives. It is illuminated at night. For images of The Muster Point see Julie Squires' website.

Artist – Julie Squires

The Muster Point is a 70 tonne steel sculpture with bronze cast figures + objects, found objects + components from the Steelworks, 8m x 12m x 8m, associated pathways (railways sleepers and ballast), located near entrance to steelworks site, George St & Selwyn St off Industrial Drive, Mayfield.

Newcastle Industrial Heritage Association is pleased to offer personalised guided tours of the iconic sculpture "The Muster Point".

This house-size industrial artwork was constructed as a collaboration by famous Newcastle sculptor Julie Squires and steelworkers in 1999, to mark the closure of the steelworks.

The whole structure, inside and out, has many stories to tell about the history of steelmaking in Newcastle.

Well-known retired steelworker Aubrey Brooks conducts intimate, heartfeld journeys around and within the walls of this unique place.

If you know any group that would like to soak up some of the emotion of life at the steelworks, contact Aubrey to make a booking.

Tours are free, but Aubrey has copies of the DVD of the steelworks and books on history of the steelworks for sale.

The Newcastle Industrial Heritage Assocation provides for groups, Guest Speaker presentations on "Remember BHP"
for more information and bookings,

PRESENTATIONS are Free.

"Remember BHP" is ideal for Service Clubs like Lions,Apex, Probsis, Lodges, Rotary, Sporting, Historical and Seniors Groups.

PRESENTATIONS are Free. BOOKING FOR 2012 ARE OPEN:


Email: obisan@bigpond.com or call 49845264..Aubrey Brooks.


To View THE BHP MUSTER POINT go to "MEDIA GALLERY" AND CLICK ON MUSTER POINT TOURS:
Hope to see you there soon...Aub

http://www.hunterunited.com.au/fundraiser-launch-for-memorial.html

News
Steelworkers Memorial Fundraiser Update
Follow the fundraising progress below, last updated 19th January, 2012.

$26088.00

Please be advised that donations can be made at any Hunter United Branch or cheques made payable to 'The Steelworkers Memorial Fund' can be mailed to, Aubrey Brooks, .

Further details about this worthy cause can be found at http://www.niha.org.au/

Hello Aubrey,
Thankyou so much for showing the us the Muster Point. Both the teachers and all students thought it was very interesting; it was a first visit for all of them. I'm sure there will be a few return visits as they tell their families and friends about it; I know students have sent their photos to various places around the world.
Some of the students were from Korea and Pakistan. In the preparation for our visit to the site they said they had lived near steel making industries in their home countries, and commented on the environmental problems associated with steel making in those places. You can't make an omelette without cracking eggs.
Thanks once again,
Chris

Hi
It was great to know you and have this opportunity to talk to you at Muster Point Tours.I did really enjoy your presentation about the history of BHP. Apart from your beautiful explanation the background music was appealing too.
As thanks, Samira

Dear Aubrey
Last week I attended a group tour of Muster Point with the Amateur Geological Society of the Hunter Valley http://www.agshv.com/

I had hear of the Muster Point but didn’t know where it was. I was expecting a walk around a monument of some sort but I didn’t expect to be transported into another time and place and into others lives including your own.

Your explanation of the Muster Point, how it came to be and the stories that it holds was truly a moving experience. I could almost feel the heat of the furnace and the rattle of the rails and the jokes of the workers. Thank you for making the history of that place so real and for passing it onto others. Many would not bother.

I hope that the Muster Point http://www.niha.org.au can become more known as an important place in the history of Newcastle but also the country. I hope you can continue your gift of story telling for many years to come.

My Regards,
Rob
..........................................................................
On behalf of all the people in the U3A tour this afternoon thank you very much for your time and the excellent tour. I think you really brought the steelworks alive with your talk of personal experiences and personal trauma. I hope you sold a few books. I bought one and I look forward to reading it. All of our people told me that they really enjoyed the tour and again thank you very much for your time, your expertise and your memories. Well done! Keep up the good work!

Geoff
...........................................................................
Terrific Aub!
All eight of us thoroughly enjoyed your presentation at the Muster Point today. Your use of music to introduce and finish your story was very 'atmospheric' and certainly set the scene. Living at Carrington through the shutdown period, I heard all the things in the press at the time and walked over to the mangroves on Throsby Creek to watch the last burn off on the Saturday morning, but of course the stories you told us filled in so much more - you made it far more 'human'. I had walked in to look at the sculpture not long after it was first installed but today's visit made it so much more meaningful.
I would love to bring some of my eight grandchildren for a visit at some stage but it would be better for you to combine them with others at the same time. Perhaps I will contact you around school holiday time.
The idea to make it a park with machinery as you mentioned would be a great asset for Newcastle.
Thanks again for alll your efforts in preserving the history of Newcastle.
Cheerio
Heather
...........................................................................

The opening of the Muster Point was a similar cause for excitement and sadness. Excitement at the thought of seeing a wonderful metal sculpture gracing the landscape in such a majestic style and likened to a cathedral. Sadness because here again is a tombstone that states that "people once worked here - where have they gone?" I would like to see a new sort of memorial become part of Australian working community culture. Rather than erecting monuments that are really 'gravestones for remembrance', we should get into the habit of erecting them while we live and work together and link the community into it as well. This is a binding mechanism that reconnects people toward their communities and industries and prevents the loss of hope and desperate detachment that many people feel today towards their regional communites.