Hank

Today Marie and I started our journey homeward. Yesterday we were in Rununga the home of the founding Fathers of the Labour Party. Today we were in Blackball where the first Trade Union in New Zealand was formed by the Coal Miners who wanted a better deal and work conditions. This is Hank who was born in the area and worked in the Strongman Coal Mine,where he was also the Union Secretary. From Blackball we continued on to visit the Memorial to the Pike 29. On Nov 10 2010 31 men entered the Pike River Coal Mine and only 2 come out, 29 others died in an underground explosion. The Memorial is a beautiful tribute to those who never went home and have not been recovered todate. To visit this memorial I think even the bravest of us would struggle to hold back a tear as did I. I read a safety sign in the mine museum in Blackball ( one person hurt,everyone is hurt)