ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are indeed good people who care about Doveton and the manufacturing industries that once supported it. While I was writing this book, so many people stepped forward, eager to help. It’s their story too, after all.

This includes family members: Audrey Glover, Fred Miles, Dawn Sutherland, Pamela Slivarich, Ena Gilliland, Anna Gregory and Jackie Gregory. And it includes friends: John Pandazopoulos (who helped me rediscover much, and has devoted his life to serving the people of Doveton), Jim McVicar (you never had a best friend like you did when you were twelve), Michael Hendricks, David Rowlands, Grant Coulter, Nick Zomer, John Wylie, Chris Cullin, Neil Moles, John Miles, Henry Torres and George Marin. I also want to acknowledge the many former employees of Heinz who spoke to me at the factory’s fifteen-year reunion, especially my sister’s friends from the packing line: Cheryl, Anne, Lorene, Louise, Shane and Wayne.

Thanks also to the former and present senior managers and executives of General Motors Holden who spoke to me – Ian McCleave, Russel Nainie, Barry Crees and Geoff Mowthorpe – as well as to Mounir Kiwan of the Federation of Automotive Parts Manufacturers, who put me in touch with them. And to municipal economic development officers Paula Brennan (of the City of Dandenong) and Tom Szolt (of the City of Casey). Adrian Boden of the South East Melbourne Manufacturer’s Alliance gave me the background on industry in the Dandenong region. The acting principal of Doveton College, Greg McMahon, and his staff and students spent precious time telling me about their gutsy efforts on behalf of their local community. Magistrate Pauline Spencer from the Dandenong Court allowed me access to her busy court, and shared many important insights about the dire social problems experienced by many local residents. Tim Kennedy, National Secretary of the National Union of Workers – one of the brightest union officials in Australia – gave me the perspective on change from warehousing workers. Adjunct Professor Lisa Heap of the Australian Catholic University and the Australian Institute of Employment Rights discussed with me similar issues of manufacturing unemployment elsewhere in Australia and Detroit. The social researcher Tony Vinson pointed me to places similar to Doveton. Deputy Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese, who grew up in a place not unlike Doveton, gave me insights into working-class life in other parts of Australia.

Zoe McKenzie provided her beach house as the perfect writer’s retreat where the final draft was completed. It is always highly appreciated.

The team at my think tank, Per Capita, have been supportive and inspiring. As always, I salute them, especially Emily, David and Anthony, whose ideas and intellectual ambition have influenced this book enormously.

My editor from Black Inc., Julian Welch, has done a terrific job removing the rhetorical excesses to which this speechwriter is inclined, and in panelbeating the manuscript into its final shape. I thank Julian and his colleague Chris Feik for commissioning the book.

Finally, I thank Fiona, Toby and Teddy for cutting me the slack without which a husband or parent could never write anything.