The Sydney GPO Postmaster’s Questioning
On My Invitations to the China
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“Why Do You Take My People Outside?” “I Don’t Allow You to Take My People Outside!”
By Hedland Yee 余秩倫 2000 March 31
The Australia Post Sydney GPO Postmaster Mr Manny Grima severely interrogated me because of my invitations to people of Sydney CPO to the China
The Postmaster with the Deputy Postmaster Mr Brian Louttit on the evening of 1987 September 21 made a special visit to my workplace, the Colonnade and fired a volley of questions at me.
“Why do (present tense) you take my people outside?” This was the Postmaster’s first question.
“For friendship between Australians and Chinese.” I answered politely and enthusiastically.
“I can have friendship with you here, inside!” He said impatiently. “Why do (present tense) you take my people outside?” the Postmaster repeated in an angry tone. I then was shocked with my eyes and mouth open wide at him, but could not say even one word. I did not understand what he meant.
He continued, “Who is the organizer? What is your position in the Chinese community? Are you the President? Or Secretary?”
“Don’t worry about this.” I said and then I asked him to go and ask my community if necessary.
“Why do (present tense again) you not invite the Supervisors?” He went on questioning me severely.
“I do!” I said. In fact, I had, I did and I have, as I invite them to Chinatown YumCha. The Senior Supervisors Mr Peter Howarth and Supervisor Ms Matilda Espinosa had had accepted my invitations to YumCha several times.
“Anyone who is interested in this can join us, all are welcome.” I explained that there would be no problem our community and Australia China Friendship Society would be more than happy to receive them at the Banquets. I also said I had been preparing invitation letters, which were completed on September 22 and forwarded to them on September 23, including both above. They were Mr Grima, Mr Louttit, Mr Peter Howarth, Ms Wilma Howarth, Mr Aubrey Cramps, Mr Barry Brown, Mr Dick Peel, Mr Alan Cameron, Mr W A Eddleston, Mr Keith Cumberland, Mr Bill Pearson, Mr Ken Brazel, Mr William H Broadbridge, Mr Don Elstringham and Ms Doborah Szaka, the officials of Sydney GPO, NSW Headquarters and National Headquarters, and some other fellow workers. [RV=2012.05.05Sat]
“Anyone who is interested in this can join us, all are welcome.” I explained that there would be no problem our community and Australia China Friendship Society would be more than happy to receive them at the Banquets. I also said I had been preparing invitation letters, which were completed on September 22 and forwarded to them on September 23, including both above. They were Mr Grima, Mr Louttit, Mr Peter Howarth, Ms Wilma Howarth, Mr Aubrey Cramps, Mr Barry Brown, Mr Dick Peel, Mr Alan Cameron, Mr W A Eddleston, Mr Keith Cumberland, Mr Bill Pearson, Mr Ken Brazel, Mr William H Broadbridge, Mr Don Elstringham and Ms Doborah Szaka, the officials of Sydney GPO, NSW Headquarters and National Headquarters, and some other fellow workers. [RV=2012.05.05Sat]
The written invitations were with a book Mao Zedong Biography I presented to Mr Peter Howarth, care of Mr Louttit. Mr Howarth had had in 1986 and 1987 in his initiatives told me several times that he is a socialist, he eagerly read Chairman Mao’s works, keenly sought knowledge of Chinese cultures and deeply loved Chinese people; and he liked Mr Bob Hawke, the Prime Minister. I presented him with another book Biography of Bob Hawke in 1988 February. [RV=2012.06.11M]
Actually, before their visit, I had had verbally invited the Colonnade officials, e.g. Mr Peter Howarth, the Senior Supervisor. And before the written invitations, I had also invited him, Mr Grima and Mr Louttit, when they were just stepping into my workplace and reaching me, after my greetings to them and before his too-impatient-to-wait first question above. Then they did not respond to my greetings. The first question was the two GPO Officials’ initial response to my verbal invitations to the people of the Sydney GPO to the Banquets.
However, in this sort of matter, i.e. when I invite people to the activities of my Friends YumCha Group/s, the cultural and China-Australia friendship of our community and the Australia China Friendship Society, I have no concept in mind and in action in differing them in rank, range, social status, politics, belief, religion, sex, age, sexuality, race, ethnicity, nationality, and area they came from, but just as human beings, people and friends to me. It is for cultural exchange, racial understanding, harmony and friendship, and between Australia and China
I invited the two officials again. “Would you like to be a VIP?” I asked them and said, “I can help to convey this message to the organizers (of the Banquets).” I expressed sincerely. However, they were not interested in either this, or buying a ticket with my work mates and me.
“How can you go (to the banquets as) you are working? Do you have an RDO?” The Postmaster pressed forward menacingly even when they knew the dates of the banquets were during my 2 weeks Annual Recreation Leave they had pushed to me and I would be taking.
“I don’t allow you to take my people outside!” The Postmaster Mr Manny Grima said intimidatingly. This was his last response.
They sounded that they would come to get the organizers i.e. my community Mr Tony Goh and ACFS Mr Steven Black to stop me. “We’ll let you know what will be happening!” The Deputy Postmaster Mr Brian Louttit said threateningly to end their visit with no farewell or goodbye. It was about 6:30 pm. [RV=2011-06-27M]
The two Officials entered the Colonnade about 6:00pm while I was working in the mailroom on the late shift. It was far after the administrative hours they were on. No doubt, their abnormal appearing was with the special purpose to stop me from attending and inviting people there to the banquets and from doing it any more in the future.
There were two banquets to celebrate China’s 38th National Day, one of which was organized by the then NSW Council Of Chinese Organizations NSWCOCO now AusCOCO of Mr Tony Goh to be held on October 1 at the Good World Restaurant and another one by the Australia China Friendship Society (ACFS) NSW on October 2 at the Nine Dragons Restaurant; both in Sydney Chinatown.
I had 18 people I invited with me attending the first banquet, including 6 Sydney GPO work mates Mr John Cottell, Mr Bob Inder, Mr Gavin Clarke, Mr Tony McMahon, Mr Graeme Pont and Ms Bette Davies; our voluntary English tutors and friends Ms Miranda Martich, Mr & Mrs Patrick & Jenny Burnett, Mr John Kevin Carew, Senior Sub-Editor, Sydney Morning Herald; my family, my brother George family, Aunt Susan Yee and Uncle Fook. At the second one, I had 5 people I invited with me. They were Mr Geoff Barnard, Ms Carol Ranft and her partner from the Sydney GPO; and Mr Peter McCulloch, Alderman, North Ryde, Senior Welfare Officer in charge, Ultimo Community Centre, and Aunt Susan again.
Was the Postmaster happy with this? If not, Why? This is my first question here for him to answer. Further, I would ask him about what have happened and been happening to me since then because of this matter. [RV=2011-09-12 Mon] [CA=2011-09-00][RV=2012-05-05S]][RV=2012-06-11M]
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