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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-28 Daily Xml
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HANCOX, MR R.V.

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:35): Raymond Vincent Hancox was a quiet achiever. He was 61 when he passed away on 7 October. At his funeral on 18 October, many well respected union officials gathered to pay their respects to a wonderful man. Roger Jowett, a friend for 30 years and former national secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and the Australian Railways Union, spoke at Ray's funeral service and reflected, reminisced and remembered with pride the contribution Ray made as a unionist. Ray's love of family was evident during the many wonderful contributions shared in the Heysen Chapel, which was filled to overflowing in a very fitting and final tribute.

I would like to quote from Ray's eulogy, as my own family heritage in Newcastle, New South Wales involved the railways and work in what is often a very dangerous industry. Roger said:

Railways have always been that type of industry where the vocation for many has been lifelong, the skills acquired not easily transferred to other industries and where a sense of history and service to the community is deeply embedded. Ray was a man of many interests and above all passions. Whether it is Aussie Rules, the qualities of single malt or the wonderment of the Australian outback and the characters that inhabited it, Ray had a zest and enthusiasm for life.

His personal qualities were second to none. He would be the first to protest at any accolades or singling out of his contribution to the union. He would go about his union business in the same way hundreds of thousands of Australian trade unionists do day in, day out, protecting and advancing the interests of their members.

When history is written, the contribution of unions, their leaders and delegates is often overlooked and this is even more so in Australia's smaller states. Certainly unionism in South Australia has come a long way since the first threatened strike in the colony in July 1836, when seamen, sailing the first vessels for the South Australian Agricultural Company and landing on Kangaroo Island after an eventful journey, issued an ultimatum that said they would go on strike unless given extra pay for landing passengers and cargo.

Railway unions are amongst the oldest in Australia. The explosive growth of railways in the second half of the 19th century not only opened up new frontiers for settlement and industry but railway unions were spearheads in the rise of mass unions in Australia. The rail, tram and bus unions in South Australia were and are part of a progressive tradition. This sense of continuity is what Ray Hancox represented.

An emigrant to Australia in 1963 as a 17 year old young man, who, after several jobs, tried something new and began his railway career as a porter at Peterborough in 1967, he was soon promoted to the signalling grade and had appointments at Yunta, Coomandook, Long Gully and Port Pirie.

The various skills of labour and their role within industry are known to few. Ray's occupation (like all) had unique characteristics and its evolution is testimony to technological and structural change. In the 1960s, the majority of the signalling was undertaken in small signal cabins dotted throughout suburban and regional Australia. The work, in many instances, was manual, being in charge of a single frame of various sizes, depending on the density of the railway traffic and many other contributing factors. The work was often undertaken alone and there existed a strong camaraderie and a sense of their industrial strength.

Ray's development as a unionist and job delegate was influenced by this environment and the leadership of the signallers' section, the irrepressible John Crossing, former secretary of the ARU and first secretary of the RTBU in South Australia. Over the course of a generation, the signallers have disappeared or joined the ranks of train controllers as functions were automated and centralised. Ray, as job delegate through his section, was heavily involved in the introduction of the CTC system in the metro network and the development and commissioning of the then new control centre for Adelaide's metropolitan rail system.

Train controllers are the eyes and ears of the railways. They are the interface between the railway track and associated infrastructure and the operational side represented by trains. The train controller's job is, above all, about safety and the application of railway rules and procedures. The work of a train controller is 24/7 and challenges work/life balance and the attainment of the development of strong family relationships. Many sacrifices are made by railway workers and their families; it is a major issue and deeply felt.

Ray spoke fondly of his signalling days, the mishaps, the misadventures and social cricket matches. It is said that the strongest steel is forged in the hottest furnace. Ray was appointed as relief organiser in 1993, being appointed full-time when the RTB was formed. He was appointed acting branch secretary in 1999 and served as branch secretary to 2006. He then worked as a branch organiser until his retirement in 2009.

Roger continued and summed up:

For the first time ever the railway history in South Australia was a major employer and enabled through industrial legislation commissioned by John Howard's government. Ray was a powerful advocate for union education whether it was in the form of a chat with workers or around a fire with a mug of tea. Times of mass redundancies can be the most soul-destroying times with members frustrated, employers evasive, and governments shielding themselves from behind the latest economic fad or fashions. Ray's steadfastness, approachability and genuine empathy were treasured attributes during the most difficult period the union members had faced.

Ray was able to leave the union in the safe hands of Ashley Waddell and a great group of officials, staff and rank-and-file members. His legacy lives on and we extend our deepest sympathies to Lesley and his family and friends. He was a great man and when we assess and appreciate Ray's contribution to our Labor movement and his role as a quiet achiever whose life's work influenced thousands of his fellow workers and their families, we can collectively proclaim that we are proud that he was a union man.

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