Jack Mundey and Jo Holder at Green Ban’s Rememberance Day, 11 November 2006.	Jack Mundey speaks at Green Ban’s Rememberance Day, 11 November 2006.	Jack Mundey speaks at Green Ban’s Rememberance Day, 11 November 2006. Mundey, a renowned environmentalist, was then state secretary of the Builders’ Labourers’ Federation.

On Remembrance Day, 11 November 2006, artist and ‘Loo local Jeanette Ravett organised a day commemorating the saving of Woolloomooloo from development. There were talks, an exhibition and BBQ. Green Bans leader Jack Mundey, then secretary of the Builders’ Labourers’ Federation, and Tom Uren, former Federal housing minister spoke.

‘Love the Loo Day’ recognised the fight for heritage and environment protection and affordable inner-city housing which led to the famous Green Bans and the building of the Loo Housing Estate. DRAG, Residents of Woolloomooloo (ROW) and Woolloomooloo Residents Action Group (run by the late Nellie Leonard) formed in 1973 to fight alongside Jack Mundey’s BLF, other unionists and church leaders like Edmund Campion. The fourth group was the more short-lived Victoria Street RAG associated with Juanita Nielson.

The first convenors of DRAG were artist Margaret Grafton (who made the tapestry work on the history of Sisters of Charity on show at St Vincents) and architect Colin James, honorary architectural advocate for The ‘Loo residents. Local historian Honora Wilkinson and artist Brenda Humble are former secretaries of ROW. In 1977 the groups took part in the official opening for the first restorations under the Housing Commission Woolloomooloo Renewal Project.

The groups worked together for many years to keep the diversity and tolerance for which the area is famous. The early action groups in the Rocks, The ‘Loo and Darlo and South Sydney formed a coalition. The late Marg Barry and Brenda Humble continued the tradition of a progressive social alliance and set up the Inner City Council of Social Services still based in Waterloo.

DRAG’s focus is on planning and traffic issues, protection of landmark sites like St John’s Church, Sacred Heart Church, East Sydney Telephone Exchange and Caritas. In 2004 we worked with the National Trust and Art Deco Society to win recognition for the heritage value of Art Deco Neon in Darlinghurst Road and encouraged City Council to initiate a Neon Precinct. All groups worked together under the banner of Action City East in 2005 to oppose public road closures associated with the infamous Cross City Tunnel. Much of our work is via email, but we meet on alternate months with 2011RA and organise public meetings on major equity and access issues like the road closures.

DRAG CONTACTS 2007

Secretary: Jo Holder, T 9331 6621; E: joholder@aic.net.au

Co-convenors: Jane Barnett, T 9380 7174 and Julia Perry, T 9331 2129

Media: Norman Thompson, 0419 296 144

ACE and Traffic: Ralf Harding, Julia Perry or Kylie Cossa

DRAG website: www.drag.org.au

Other Resident Action Groups: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Community

Darlinghurst Local News: www.darlinghurst.biz/

Save Callan Park www.callanpark.com