A truck which has played a large part in the social history of the Northern Territory is being considered for heritage listing and restoration. It is a 30cwt Bedford owned by longtime Darwin activist, Brian Manning.
Over the decades it has been used to advance Aboriginal rights, provide the official platform for speakers at May Day Parades, carry bodies after Cyclone Tracy , run supplies to strikers at Newcastle Waters and the Gurindjis who walked off Wave Hill , maintain radio contact with East Timor after the Indonesian invasion and scores of other causes.
Manning bought the truck from the Darwin Workers’ Club when he was its manager . The Aboriginal footballer and actor , Robert Tudawali , was involved in running supplies to the Gurindji on the truck. Manning has a photograph showing Tudawali loading supplies onto the truck shortly before he was diagnosed suffering from TB.
Federal Police commandeered the truck after Cyclone Tracy to convey bodies to the morgue. Sandblasted by the fierce winds, the green duco on the vehicle had been cut back to the red undercoat.
Manning had the truck fitted with a special public address system operated from the cabin which enabled official speakers to be heard at May Day Parades. A Communist and an official of the Darwin Watersiders , Brian has taken part in many campaigns, including ones with former NT News crusading editor, Jim Bowditch, at whose funeral he paid a lengthy tribute.
An advertisement in the NT News recently announced the truck, parked next to Manning’s Stuart Park residence for 20 years , now in the old Qantas hangar , has been recommended for heritage listing and restoration and called for public comment . It would be inconceivable that this vehicle with all its associated history, including the part played by Manning in the NT and East Timor , is not thought worthy for restoration .
Manning would like to see the faithful vehicle put on display at the Gurindji homeland.
