Series 02: Alan Gibson Stewart papers, 1987-1989 - Page 167

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industrial dispute.   All these news items might have scared some timid voters.   But the Wran bandwaggon kept on rolling, convincing more and more people to support this dynamic new leader of the estate.

        Only a few people in Manly knew Alan Stewart:   almost everybody felt they knew Neville Wran.   I was unashemed to jump on the bandwaggon and to proclaim myself to be "Wran's Man in Manly".

        One Saturday morning we were handing out pamphlets in the Corso.   The Liberals had been "trawling", using a loudhailer in a car which cruised past us.   Donna wanted to retaliate in kind, to go and get our own loudhailer.   However, I vetoed this tactic:   ordering that there was to be no confrontation with the enemy.   We would ignore their loutish behaviour and act in a dignified manner. Our task was to smile at passers by and to politely offer them our literature.

        I took up a position on the footpath outside St. Mathew's Anglican Church, the symbol of the Tory establishment which stood on the most prominent site along the Corso.   In a few minutes I was accosted by the Rector, the Reverend David Cohen.   He was a tall, intense man, who spoke with clerical authority:   Political campaigning was not permitted in front of the church and I should move on.

        I refused to budge, pointing out that I was not on church property and that this   spot was traditionally  

  

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