Mahi Tupuna (the work of our ancestors)
Blackball Museum of Working Class History Trust. PO Box 2, 47 Clifford Street, Blackball 7804, Ph: (03) 732 4010;  Fax: (03) 7324015;e-mail wkcultur@ihug.co.nz [1]

in association with Unions West Coast, Blackball Residents Association, Blackball District Community Centre
supported by The NZ Council of Trade Unions and The Grey District Council.

2008 sees the centenary of the 1908 Blackball “crib-time” strike, an event that led to the formation of the first national unions and the first Trade Union Federation. This was one of the triggers for the formation of a national Labour Movement and the complex birth of the NZ Labour Party. We will  commemorate the event in Blackball, during Easter, 2008 (March 21-24), with a series of events which will attract a national gathering.

Programme for 2008 Celebration of 1908 Blackball Strike, Easter 2008 (March 21-24).

o Registrations: Friday 21st, 6.00pm onwards and 9.00am- 10.30am, Saturday 22nd at Blackball Working Men’s Club.
o A dinner at the Blackball Working Men’s Club (Friday night, March 21) with poems from Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, after dinner speeches, songs, and launching of book, this event aimed at old timers.
o Market plus a parade through Blackball with floats from unions and schools, to be followed by a family afternoon– which will include some choir items – Saturday 10.30am onwards (parade at 12 noon).
o A community theatre production, Rain, Love and Coalsmoke to play Thursday and Saturday night at the Regent Theatre in Greymouth.
o On the Saturday night the play will be preceded by a buffet meal and a concert with union choirs.
o On Sunday, a seminar on the theme of Labourism 1908 – 1935 and Labourism now. Speakers include Eric Beardsley, Peter Clayworth, Mark Derby, Laila Harré, Melanie Nolan and Len Richardson. (A history tour of Blackball will also be available.)
For planning purposes we need to know approximate numbers. A deposit of $20 to assist us with cashflow, would be appreciated.

Further information:
Paul Maunder (03 732 4010) or Jane Wells (03 732 4705) or Matt Winter (0275900084).  Or visit www.blackballmuseum.org.nz [2]

Registrations are now open, please download the attached form here (Word doc, 120kb) [3] and send it to the organisers (details of where to send it at base of page 2).

Media coverage: click here for an NZPA story on the upcoming celebration [4].

Names of the strikers. 
The names of the 1908 strikers are below.

Algie C. jun.
Algie Colin C, sen.
Allen James
Anderson Alb.
Anderson Albert
Anderson James
Anderson W.
Auld Thomas
Barnhill A.
Barrow Joe
Bowers James
Bradden E.
Brady James
Brady P.
Brady William
Brearton Edward
Broady Patrick
Bromilow William
Brown T.
Buchanan Henry
Cairner Thomas
Cairns T.
Carson James
Chilvers Thomas
Coadwell John
"Coadwell John, jun."
Colquhoun R.
Cornish John
Critchley Herbert
Cruickshank Alexander
Dawson Peter
Dempsey William
Duggan J.
Duggan John J.
Earp James
Finch Harry
Fitzeven E.
Fleming A.
Fleming Robert
Fletcher A.
Fox H.
Fox Henry John
Glasson Ralph
Goldsmith J.
Green F.
Grigg J.
Grindle Albert
Grindle George
Grindle Henry
Guthberlet W.
Hall Mathew
Harris Joseph
Harris Robert
Harvey J.
Hay James
Hickey P.H.
Higgs William
Hilton Thomas
Hopkins James
Hunter George
Jackson John
Jamieson A.
Jamieson Henry
Jones J.W.
Jones John
Keil William
Kells William
Kerins Thomas
Kernick Henry
Kerr George
Kerr James
Kerr T. jun.
Kerr T. sen.
Kerr Thomas
Kerr W.
Kerr Walter
Le Huray William J.
Leitch Alexander, jun.
Leitch Andrew
Leitch Jacko
Leitch James
Leitch John
"Leitch John, jun."
"Leitch John, sen."
Leitch Robert
Leitch Taff
Leitch Thomas. Sen.
Leitch William
Lingren Olaf
Lloyd John
Long Brinsley
Long Clifton
Martin Joseph
McAuley Hugh
McDonald Alexander
McIntosh C.
McIntrye Frederick
McIntyre Samuel
Mckenzie G.
McKinnon Donald
Meadowcroft Herbert
Meadowcroft Walter
Meecham John
Milligan Thomas
Moore T.
Mori S.
Murnan William
Murphy Horace
Neilson Charles
Neilson Henry
Neilson William
Nuttal Andrew
Nuttal James
Outram Frank
Outram James
Phipps E.
Phipps J.
Pritchard David K.
Pryde Hector
Reid James
Rhodes B. jun.
Rhodes Israel
Rhodes W.
Richards Joseph
Rodgers W.
Rogers Richard
Rugg Andrew
Rundle J.
Ryan George
Ryan Thomas
Scoble John
Scoble William
Smith Robert
Smith William
Snedden J.
Snedden James
Snedden Thomas
Sommerville W.
Stackzner Henry
Steele H.
Steele R.
Stenhouse John
Stephens J.
Stephens Richard
Stephens Thomas
Stewart J.
Svenson A.
Taylor D.
Taylor Sydney
Thomas C.
Thorpe William
Walker George
Walker S.
Walker William
Wallace W.
Webb Patrick
West George
Whick Richard
White James. Jun.
White R.
Williams John
Williamson Peter W.
Wilson James
Wilson R.
Wootten Albert
Wootten Charles