James Gorman July 30, 2015
FEMINIST and academic Eva Cox has taken a stand alongside embattled Millers Point public housing residents, signing on as a patron following in the footsteps of historic defender Jack Mundey.
Known for her advocacy of feminist causes and the rights of the Aussie battler, Cox was awarded Australian Humanist of the Year in 1997 and received the Order of Australia in 1995 for her services to women and welfare.
The author said her sympathy for the plight of Millers Point and its residents dates back to the 1970s when she witnessed first-hand Jack Mundey leading the Green Bans movement to save the historic precinct.
Mundey and the NSW Builders Labourers Federation fought to save The Rocks from redevelopment between 1971-75, saving historic buildings and protecting the low-income, working class residents.
“I was a graduate student at the University of NSW and I was given an assignment to go down and work with Jack Mundey and I got to see how he worked to fight for the community,” Ms Cox said.
“I have been involved in politics ever since. I became friends with the community and I have been keeping my eye on it.
“We saved it from the government once before and now that it is under threat again I want to do what I can because it is so important we retain this housing within the community.”
STRUGGLE STREET IN CENTRAL SYDNEY
NEW MILLERS POINT OWNERS SUBMIT FIRST DAs
Cox accused the State Government of failing to comprehend the consequences of selling off one of Australia’s older historic public housing communities.
“The government has now just decided to start selling off Millers Point once again, a community that has been here for more than 100 years,” she said.
“We don’t have any old communities like this left in Australia — it is literally a part of our history.
“I think Sydney is going to become a very ugly place some day if it is just full of glass skyscrapers and the very wealthy.
“And it scares me because I have met some of the older women in the community and they are frightened about moving out of the area; they have relatives there, families and it is all they know.”
“We are going to lose this community and what people need remember is that our history and our past is not just about the buildings, it is also about the people.”
Meanwhile, six more Millers Point public housing properties have been listed for sale by the State Government.
The heritage-listed properties are due to go to auction August 25 and include two 19th century terraces on Trinity Ave and four additional terraces on Kent St, the oldest of which was built in 1871.
Government Property NSW chief executive Brett Newman said the six homes were released at once to take advantage of strong market conditions.
Since launching the sell-off more than a year ago, the NSW Government has sold 23 former public houses, with most selling between $1.6 million and $2.5 million.
Combined, the sales have totalled more than $50 million, which will be used by the government to build new public housing in other parts of Sydney.
RESOURCED: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/academic-and-feminist-eva-cox-named-patron-of-millers-point-as-public-housing-sell-off-heats-up/story-fngr8h22-1227461490916
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| Eva Cox at Millers Point last week. Picture: Craig Wilson Source: News Corp Australia |
Known for her advocacy of feminist causes and the rights of the Aussie battler, Cox was awarded Australian Humanist of the Year in 1997 and received the Order of Australia in 1995 for her services to women and welfare.
The author said her sympathy for the plight of Millers Point and its residents dates back to the 1970s when she witnessed first-hand Jack Mundey leading the Green Bans movement to save the historic precinct.
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| An embattled community: (L-R) Joe Fitzpatrick, Eva Cox, Flo Seckold, Myra Demetriau, Sally Parslow and Geraldine Thomas at Millers Point. Source: News Corp Australia |
“I have been involved in politics ever since. I became friends with the community and I have been keeping my eye on it.
“We saved it from the government once before and now that it is under threat again I want to do what I can because it is so important we retain this housing within the community.”
STRUGGLE STREET IN CENTRAL SYDNEY
NEW MILLERS POINT OWNERS SUBMIT FIRST DAs
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| And being arrested at The Rocks in 1973. Source: News Corp Australia |
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| Green Bans unionist Jack Mundey today. Source: News Corp Australia |
“The government has now just decided to start selling off Millers Point once again, a community that has been here for more than 100 years,” she said.
“We don’t have any old communities like this left in Australia — it is literally a part of our history.
“I think Sydney is going to become a very ugly place some day if it is just full of glass skyscrapers and the very wealthy.
“And it scares me because I have met some of the older women in the community and they are frightened about moving out of the area; they have relatives there, families and it is all they know.”
“We are going to lose this community and what people need remember is that our history and our past is not just about the buildings, it is also about the people.”
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One of the homes on Trinity Ave included in the State Government’s latest auction listing. Source: Supplied
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Government Property NSW chief executive Brett Newman said the six homes were released at once to take advantage of strong market conditions.
Since launching the sell-off more than a year ago, the NSW Government has sold 23 former public houses, with most selling between $1.6 million and $2.5 million.
Combined, the sales have totalled more than $50 million, which will be used by the government to build new public housing in other parts of Sydney.
RESOURCED: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/academic-and-feminist-eva-cox-named-patron-of-millers-point-as-public-housing-sell-off-heats-up/story-fngr8h22-1227461490916
