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| In for the fight: Wendy Ford. Photo: Ella Rubeli |
The tiny hall in Millers Point held hundreds of residents, all angry at the state government's decision to sell the area's public housing.
The crowd gathered at lunchtime on Saturday, furious at the prospect of having to leave the houses some were born in. And they didn't hold back.
''These people cannot come in and walk all over us and turf us out like we're rubbish,'' an elderly resident said to cheers. ''We're not going down without a fight,'' another declared.
The heat of the Abraham Mott hall radiated from the packed crowd, who filled all the seats, leaving only standing room. MP Alex Greenwich urged the able-bodied to vacate seats for the elderly as speakers took turns at the podium, offering legal help, solidarity and support from unions.
Among the protesters was Glenda Cox, whose family has lived in the Millers Point area since the 1860s, working on the docks.
''I've been here in the one house for 61 years,'' Ms Cox said. ''I'm 63 now, and my daughter's done the family tree right back to 1860 in The Rocks and Millers Point area. We've worked and lived here all that time.''
Permanent housing in The Rocks was offered to dock workers and their families as an incentive for the long hours and dangerous work they undertook.
But with the properties run by the Housing Commission, the tenants now face the prospect of being evicted. Many say they helped to make Sydney the city it is today -
''Where will they go,'' asked Chad Ford, whose mother Wendy lives down the road from Ms Cox.
''They've lived here all their lives - it's all they know.''
Ms Cox said people once looked down on The Rocks as a lower-class area of Sydney, but it has become more appealing because of its history and harbour views.
''In my time, they didn't want to know you,'' she said. ''My father used to walk the Hungry Mile on the docks looking for work.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/they-cant-turf-us-like-rubbish-say-angry-millers-point-residents-20140322-35a6l.html
''I've been here in the one house for 61 years,'' Ms Cox said. ''I'm 63 now, and my daughter's done the family tree right back to 1860 in The Rocks and Millers Point area. We've worked and lived here all that time.''
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| I've been in the one house for 61 years": Glenda Cox with her daughter Natalie outside their home. Photo: Ella Rubeli |
But with the properties run by the Housing Commission, the tenants now face the prospect of being evicted. Many say they helped to make Sydney the city it is today -
''Where will they go,'' asked Chad Ford, whose mother Wendy lives down the road from Ms Cox.
''They've lived here all their lives - it's all they know.''
Ms Cox said people once looked down on The Rocks as a lower-class area of Sydney, but it has become more appealing because of its history and harbour views.
''In my time, they didn't want to know you,'' she said. ''My father used to walk the Hungry Mile on the docks looking for work.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/they-cant-turf-us-like-rubbish-say-angry-millers-point-residents-20140322-35a6l.html
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