Decades of meetings, campaigning and handing out how-to-vote cards were celebrated in Tamworth this month, when long-serving members of the local Labor branch received service awards.
Twenty members attended the Tamworth Branch of the Australian Labor Party’s October meeting, where branch senior vice-president Kate McGrath presented certificates recognising between 10 and 30 years of membership.
The awards marked more than the number of years members had belonged to the party. They also recognised the time spent attending meetings, supporting candidates and contributing to political debate in the Tamworth community.
Members were also asked a simple question: why do you belong to Labor?
For 20-year member Denise McHugh, the answer goes back to the Howard Government’s industrial relations reforms.
“WorkChoices was what got me actively involved in Labor,” Ms McHugh said.
“I saw what could happen when the rights and conditions working people had fought for over generations could simply be stripped away.”
“Twenty years later, those issues still matter.”
“When I hear some of the policies now coming from One Nation, I worry that we could find ourselves fighting those battles all over again.”
Fifteen-year member John Dunlop said his membership reflected a long-standing belief in fairness and the importance of ensuring ordinary people had a voice in politics.
“For me, Labor has always been about giving working people a fair go and making sure opportunity isn’t determined by how much money you have or where you come from,” Mr Dunlop said.
“You don’t have to agree with every decision the party makes, but you stay involved because you believe in the values and because being part of the conversation matters.”
Ten-year member Lynne Prisk said Labor’s commitment to strong public services and looking after people who needed support had kept her involved.
“I’ve always believed that government can make people’s lives better, through good schools, hospitals, decent jobs and services that are there when people need them,” Ms Prisk said.
“Politics ultimately comes down to what sort of community you want to live in, and those Labor values of fairness and looking after one another are still important to me.”
The evening was not entirely serious. A political trivia competition, with plenty of prizes, added some friendly rivalry. Members discovered that decades of Labor Party membership did not necessarily translate into encyclopaedic political knowledge, although there was no shortage of confidence in the answers.
Ms McGrath congratulated all recipients and said the collective years represented by the awards showed the depth of commitment within the local branch.
“Political parties are ultimately built on their members, the people who turn up year after year, contribute their ideas, support campaigns and remain involved in their communities,” Ms McGrath said.
“Recognising 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of membership is a wonderful reminder that political participation isn’t just something that happens during an election campaign.”
“These members have contributed an extraordinary amount of time and energy over many years.”
The meeting also reflected on the changing nature of politics and the importance of maintaining strong local party organisations, particularly in regional communities.
While members had joined Labor at different times and for different reasons, the awards highlighted a common thread: a belief that politics matters and that change is more likely when people are prepared to get involved rather than watch from the sidelines.
Ms McGrath said the branch was always keen to welcome new members.
“If you believe in fairness, in standing up for working people and in making our community a better place, we’d love you to join us,” she said.
“You don’t have to have been involved in politics before. If you want to make a difference, get in touch with the Tamworth Labor Branch and come along to a meeting.”
“There’s always room for another person who is prepared to stand up for a fair go.”
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