WED 29 JAN 2014
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Pete Murray
Trades & Services Need help at your place this weekend? p.16-17
Trade union legend Australia Day honour for Metford man with a world of experiences and memories Melissah Comber
Residents query rate rise p.3
Rock N Ride in Maitland Stars wow locals
p.4-5
B
ill Hopkins once had a barbeque with Gough Whitlam at Morpeth’s Commercial Hotel and received a letter from Nelson Mandela. The Metford man was one of three Maitland residents honoured on Australia Day, receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to industrial relations and to the community, and to say that he has been to a few places and met a few people would be an understatement. “It’s quite exciting, but also confusing, because I don’t know who nominated me,” Mr Hopkins said. Raised in Carrington as one of 13 children, Mr Hopkins began his working life on the railways, but very quickly moved to become a trade union official. That was the start of a long and illustrious trade union career, serving in official capacities at both state and national level in several organisations, including as National President of the Metal Trades Federation of Unions. During his trade union career he settled tens of thousands of disputes nationwide and travelled the world as a delegate, including to Washington D.C. to negotiate a deal after the nation banned Australian steel imports. During his career Mr Hopkins also met several Australian Prime Ministers, including Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and John Howard, as well as having the earlier mentioned
Bill Hopkins has received a Medal of the Order of Australia barbeque with Gough Whitlam. He has also met royalty, with a scrapbook of memories from time spent with Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, and Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. “He’s a great fella,” Mr Hopkins said of Prince Philip. “He makes smart-arse remarks at times, but he means nothing by it, he’s very much a man’s man.”
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Mr Hopkins is also being honoured for his work with the Fort Scratchley Historical Society, in which he helped secure the almost $10 million in funding needed to undertake repairs in 2003. “I’ve had a busy life, but I’ve enjoyed it.” But for all his globetrotting and shoulderrubbing, Mr Hopkins is prouder of one thing more than most. “My greatest joy is my family.” Continues on page 3
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GP2901005
Ten years of success p.12