This mural is dedicated to the memory of all the miners, their families and the communities who endured the suffering of the lockout and continued on to fight for workers rights and social justice.
The northern NSW coal lockout from 2 March 1929 to 3 June 1930 was among the longest and the most violent industrial confrontation in Australian history.
Mineworkers from the Kurri Kurri mines marched to Rothbury led by the local pipe band to meet up with other mineworkers from the northern district, on December 16th, 1929. The resulting action against the use of scab labour at the mine left many miners injured and the death of Norman Brown – receiving a mortal wound to the back (he is shown to the right of the mural in white shirt). Wally Wood (shown in the foreground on the road) who was shot in the neck was helped by a passing motorist who used a scarf to help stop the bleeding. Jackson Brown was shot twice in the back and became a paraplegic (shown middle background near broken gate helped by 2 comrades).
One policeman was so overcome by the event that he committed suicide months later, not being able to live with the trauma.
The miners retreated under this onslaught. They ultimately went back to work at a reduced salary, locked out of the mine for 15 months in total.
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