Creatures of the Industry

 Series 5, Episode 1: Kicking off Series 5 of Creatures of the Industry, is part one of an extended interview with Don Rust. We begin the interview discussing his first experiences in the industry around the late '60s and joining the BLF when he worked as as a laborer and dogman early on, on-the-job training before the ubiquity of on-site radios, the ins-and-outs of crainage across many jobs big a...

 This episode of Creatures of The Industry is a memorial special, remembering the life of Peter 'The Bone' Welsh.  First up, Ralph speaks to attendees at his send-off at the Grandview Hotel in Fairfield earlier this year, remembering him as a comrade, boss, mentor, and friend. Later, you'll hear an interview with Mick Cody, reflecting with Ralph after the event. You can listen back to the Season 2...

 If you are a worker in the industry, you can access Incolink's Counselling Support service anytime by calling 1300 000 129, or find out about their Bluehats Suicide Prevention program here. Series 4, Episode 5: On the final episode of Series 4, Ralph has a discussion with the last three chairs of the Incolink board: Tommy Watson (ex-Secretary of the FEDFA Branch of CFMEU), Brian Boyd (ex-Secretar...

  Content Warning: this episode contains discussions of workplace injuries and fatalities, and suicide. You can also expect some strong language. If you need somebody to talk to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are a worker in the industry, you can access Incolink's Counselling Support service anytime by calling 1300 000 129, or find out about their Bluehats Suicide Prevention program he...

 Series 4, Episode 3: This episode of Creatures of the Industry Series 4, features Part 2 of an interview with Fergal Doyle, who begins the story at the point where the brickies union was facing the "disappointing but unsurprising" result of losing amalgamation by 80 votes. He discusses the work in rebuilding a culture of organising through the '90s, his work for the CFMEU, a memorable blue in Has...

 Series 4, Episode 2: This episode of Creatures of the Industry Series 4, features Part 1 of an interview with Fergal Doyle, who describes his family history which led him into industry as a bricklayer in Dublin, and the people and events through his journey to Melbourne which consolidated his political drive to unionism. This episode ends with a discussion of his experience of the brickies union,...

 Content Warning: this episode contains detailed discussion of workplace injuries and fatalities, as well as some strong language. If you need somebody to talk to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are a worker in the industry, you can access Incolink's Counselling Support service anytime by calling 1300 000 129, or find out about their Bluehats Suicide Prevention program here. Series 4, E...

 Content Warning: this episode contains some strong language. If you need somebody to talk to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are a worker in the industry, you can access Incolink's Counselling Support service anytime by calling 1300 000 129, or find out about their Bluehats Suicide Prevention program here. Series 3, Episode 6: Series 3 of COTI focuses on the construction industry in WA...

 Content Warning: this episode contains detailed discussion of workplace incidents and fatalities, as well as some strong language. If you need somebody to talk to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are a worker in the industry, you can access Incolink's Counselling Support service anytime by calling 1300 000 129, or find out about their Bluehats Suicide Prevention program here. Series 3,...

 Content Warning: this episode contains detailed discussion of workplace deaths, injury, and suicide, as well as some strong language. If you need somebody to talk to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are a worker in the industry, you can access Incolink's Counselling Support service anytime by calling 1300 000 129, or find out about their Bluehats Suicide Prevention program here. Series...

 Series 3, Episode 3: Series 3 of COTI focuses on the construction industry in WA. Building workers are building workers and building work is building work wherever you are.   On this episode of Creatures of the Industry, Ralph talks to Peter Ballard about his experiences in the industry. From his introduction to workplace politics in shearing sheds, starting out as a brickies labourer, his later...

 Content Warning: this episode contains detailed discussion of workplace fatalities. If you need somebody to talk to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are a worker in the industry, you can access Incolink's Counselling Support service anytime by calling 1300 000 129, or find out about their Bluehats Suicide Prevention program here. In this special episode of Creatures of the Industry, Ral...

 Content Warning: this episode contains discussion of fatalities and suicides, violence, as well as some strong language.  If you need somebody to talk to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are a worker in the industry, you can access Incolink's Counselling Support service anytime by calling 1300 000 129, or find out about their Bluehats Suicide Prevention program here.  Series 3, Episode...

 Content Warning: this episode contains some strong language. Series 3, Episode 1: Series 3 of COTI focuses on the construction industry in WA. Building workers are building workers and building work is building work wherever you are.  In this episode, Ralph hosts an extended interview with Graham Pallot, comparing and contrasting elements of the building and construction industry between Melbourn...

 Content Warning: this episode contains discussion of violence, murder, suicide, workplace incidents and deaths, and also contains some strong language. Series 2, Episode 5: The fifth and final interview of series two features Phil Court, discussing his time in the construction industry, from scaffolding and the BLF to training and inspecting. He also talks safety, writing the Concrete Gang theme...

Content Warning: this episode contains discussion of dispute-related injuries and some strong language. Series 2, Episode 4: An extended interview with Brian Boyd from the start of his career digging holes in QLD, through to his later work with Incolink, discussing differences between industry unionism vs. opportunist unionism, activism, amalgamation and more.   The COTI podcasts are sponsored by...

Content Warning: this episode contains discussion of workplace accidents and fatalities, suicide, and some strong language.  Series 2, Episode 3: An extended interview with Latrobe Valley resident, worker and union organiser Tom Malone. The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Community Radio.  For a full list of episodes, visit www.3cr.org.au/coti

Content Warning: this episode contains discussion of workplace accidents and fatalities, and some strong language.  Series 2, Episode 2: An extended interview with Pat Preston about his long career in the industry, from humble beginnings as a "rigger" in the mid-1960s, to finishing up in the OH&S unit in the CFMEU. Thanks to Peter Clark for his contribution to this episode.  The COTI podcasts are...

 Series 2, Episode 1: A conversation with Peter Welsh, Daryl McGaw and Mick Cody, focusing on their experiences with the contract scaffolding sector of the industry in particular. This episode of Creatures of The Industry originally aired on 3CR as a May Day Concrete Gang special program — Sunday 1st January 2022. The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Communi...

 Series 1, Episode 5: A discussion with Malcolm McDonald. This episode of Creatures of The Industry originally aired as part of 3CR's summer special programming while the Concrete Gang took their well-earned summer break — on Sunday 23rd January 2022. The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Community Radio.  For a full list of episodes, visit www.3cr.org.au/cot...

 Series 1, Episode 4: A discussion with Brendan Murphy. This episode of Creatures of The Industry originally aired as part of 3CR's summer special programming while the Concrete Gang took their well-earned summer break — on Sunday 16th January 2022. The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Community Radio.  For a full list of episodes, visit www.3cr.org.au/coti

 Series 1, Episode 3: Part two of an extended interview with Tommy Watson, Danny Gardiner & Noel Washington. This episode of Creatures of The Industry originally aired as part of 3CR's summer special programming while the Concrete Gang took their well-earned summer break — on Sunday 9th January 2022. The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Community Radio.  For...

 Series 1, Episode 2: Part one of an extended interview with Tommy Watson, Danny Gardiner & Noel Washington. This episode of Creatures of The Industry originally aired as part of 3CR's summer special programming while the Concrete Gang took their well-earned summer break — on Sunday 2nd January 2022. The COTI podcasts are sponsored by the Concrete Gang in cooperation with 3CR Community Radio.  For...

 Series 1, Episode 1: A conversation with Maurie Hill about how he came into construction through the mobile crane industry, his introduction to unions in the midst of deregistration, and more.  This episode of Creatures of The Industry originally aired as part of 3CR's summer special programming while the Concrete Gang took their well-earned summer break — on Sunday 26th December 2021. The COTI p...