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Menu from the Seafarers Retirement Fund Dinner, held at the Hilton Sydney.

Date30 July 1996

Object numberANMS1313[016]

NameLetter

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 296 x 210 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Bill Heath

Terms

menus

DescriptionMenu from the Seafarers Retirement Fund Dinner, relating to the movement to highlight the contributions of merchant mariners and to improve their conditions and services.HistoryDuring periods of war, transport and supply ships play a highly important role in the support of defence forces and the civilian war effort. These ships are mostly unarmed, are exposed to many dangers and are often targets for enemy action while their crews are at risk of injury, capture and illness. Although Australian merchant seamen were directly involved in the war effort across several conflicts, and many lost their lives or were affected by their experiences, they were not covered by the same pensions Act as naval personnel. The 1989 McGirr Inquiry into the Needs of Australian Mariners, Commonwealth and Allied Veterans and Allied Mariners was held in order to examine the Australian Government’s position in relation to compensation and benefits for those mariners directly affected by war. The inquiry’s recommendations improved the position of merchant seamen, and until this point those who claimed to have suffered injury as a result of wartime service, had had to bring their claims to the Seamen's War Pensions and Allowances Committee.SignificanceThe menu from this particular function is representative of the efforts to gain recognition and welfare for merchant seamen in 1989 the McGirr Inquiry was undertaken by Jocelyn McGirr as Deputy President of the Repatriation Commission, aiming to rectify an imbalance in services, treatment and compensation for Australian merchant seamen.