Vale – Peter Symon

Prior to its hasty formation in the weeks before the disastrous invasion of Iraq in 2003, few of the founding members of our peace group (the Chippendale-Darlington Community for Peace), had ever heard of, let alone met, Peter. However, his energy quickly inspired the rest of us, young and old, strengthening us with the wealth of his decades of experience in the peace and labour movements. Peter consistently encouraged us to mobilise friends and neighbours in the cause of peace, and was central to our hosting several successful local public meetings. These meetings made our group a focal point for the hundreds of South Sydney locals keen to sabotage the bloodthirsty acts of John Howard, Tony Blair, and George Bush against the people of Iraq.

It is no coincidence that our group – and its thousands of equivalents across the world – well outlived the respective political careers of this bloodstained trio. Peter’s contribution massively aided the relatively long lifespan of our group, even when his political position was in the minority. His stance in this regard occasionally drew open fire from other members of the group; many more were the occasions, however, that his loyalty and solidarity made him stick with us, rather than take the easy option of withdrawing from peace-movement activity all together. No doubt his endless patience and his inclination to thorough, open-minded intellectual inquiry sustained him at such times. It certainly sustained us collectively on more than one occasion.

This patience served Peter (and the rest of us) well, especially when our group navigated the stormy waters of the unfortunate and unnecessary split that tore through the Sydney peace movement in August 2003. Given his eloquent sympathy for one particular grouping arising out of the split, Peter’s continued involvement in our local peace group was highly regarded, especially as, on this count at least, he was in the minority among its “active” members.

It is a testament to Peter’s humanity and kind spirit that such a politically-diverse group of comrades as ourselves can proudly thank him – and the political tradition from which he came, the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) – for his countless hours of service to our group and our collective cause. That this contribution was often made in times of poor health, only heightened its significance.

Peter’s death is a blow to the class for which he stood (and tirelessly fought) – the global working class – and we proudly stand together with the CPA, and his bereaved loved ones, including his unfairly widowed wife, Natasha, in deference to the distinguished contribution he made to our common cause – a world without war, hatred and privilege: in other words, a world won to socialism, and therefore the rule of working men and women.

In peace and solidarity

Peter’s Comrades from the Chippendale-Darlington Community for Peace Group

Source: South Sydney Herald March 2009 www.southsydneyherald.com.au