The Song of Victory (1954)
By Victor Williams - Wharfie Poet.
Now, Kevin Troy's a seamanHis mate is Peterson;
Co-delegates on the Kabbarli,
Upon the Western run.
Before we hit Carnarvon
A cable warned us then.
"The bosses said there'll be no work
For Federation men."
The seamen came together
And Troy has showed the way,
"These men who fought beside us
Are victimised today." Oh, we grow strong with victory
And we grow swift with joy,
So sing of Mac and Austin
Of Peterson and Troy. "They stand within the North-West
Against Monopoly,
Where black and white are prisoners
Chained by the B.H.P.
Our mates on ship and cargo
Are thirty thousand strong
And Bowen showed how workers
Rise up to fight a wrong,
We've fought them at the shipside,
We've fought them on the seas;
Well fight them at Carnarvon,
Or anywhere they please." Oh, we grow strong with victory
And we grow swift with joy,
So sing of Mac and Austin
Of Peterson and Troy. "No steam," up spoke a seaman,
"No steam," said one and all.
The clattering winch was silent
The men stood like a wall
"Come South," the Government ordered.
For they had squibbed the fight.
They smeared us in the papers-
That's the way the cowards write.
They squirmed at every conference,
But we didn't budge an inch;
They gave what we demanded
To start the silent winch. Oh, we grow strong with victory
And we grow swift with joy.
So sing of Mac and Austin
Of Peterson and Troy. But their words, they fly like ashes.
Their deeds, they sink as lead;
They victimised the wharfies.
Denied their children bread.
With Mac and the Koolinda
We faced them-man to man,
"Well talk the matter over,
But first you lift the ban."
The bread has been delivered.
The wharfies work the ship.
The bosses turned and bolted
Before the workers' grip. Oh, we grow strong with victory
And we grow swift with joy.
So sing of Mac and Austin
Of Peterson and Troy. Notes From the NSW Newspaper The Tribune 3 Jun 1954 p. 6.