Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — On Friday, 16 February, I was invited to attend a retirement gathering at Ford Geelong. Two exceptional people from the training department, Judy Mazey and Lou Nettleton, had decided after much deliberation to commence a new journey in their lives. I would like to focus on Judy Mazey.
Judy Mazey completed 31 years of service at Ford, working all shifts, starting with the night shift. It was the first real intake of women to work on the factory floor. There was no induction or information; it was about being allocated a job and going like the Almighty to keep up, with very little consideration given to safety. There were many issues on the shop floor in those days. Over time Judy realised that something had to be done.
This eventually led her to become a shop steward and then deputy senior shop steward for the vehicle builders union, the highest position held by a woman in the union at that time. Judy also went on to become president of the union’s Geelong sub-branch.
Not long after being presented with the vehicle industry certificate by Joan Kirner in 1992, Judy started with the training department at Ford, helping her workmates on the shop floor and making sure their concerns were addressed. Listening to people and working for ordinary people have been the norm for Judy, employing values that have been handed down to her by her parents. Judy now looks forward to some rest, part-time work and spending time at home with her mum, Beryle. We salute you, Judy, for your tenacity, tireless work and breaking — —
The PRESIDENT — Order! The member’s time has expired.