Dad And Son Left All At Sea

Newcastle Herald

Thursday May 1, 2008

By GREG WENDT

WHILE the luxurious yachts they work on are known as the "dreams of a thousand wishes", Beresfield tradesman Dave Wallace and his apprentice son Jamie are the human faces of the reality of working in the boat-building industry.

Mr Wallace and his 19-year-old son were "gutted" when they were stood down with their workmates by Sensation Yachts yesterday.

The eight workers and two apprentices walked from the Carrington shipyard and went to a local watering hole for a beer, unaware of what their future would be.

"We don't know what's going to happen, mate," Mr Wallace said.

"It's an awful feeling, not knowing whether you've got a job or not."

Mr Wallace, who has been with Sensation Yachts since December 2006, said he had believed the "hype" when the State Government said Sensation Yachts was reviving ship-building skills in Newcastle.

He said the 400 jobs promised by the State Government had not happened.

"There was a peak of about 50 and now we have 36, that's workers and office staff," he said.

Mr Wallace said he had encouraged his son to take up an apprenticeship at the yard.

"Jamie only started here on the 18th of April," he said.

"I got a pay rise of $3 on the same day they put him on and I thought everything was all roses.

"Everything seemed to be going well and now this."

The workers said they felt "used up" by the company.

Apprentice Blayne Astley, 20, said he moved from his home in Dubbo 18 months ago, believing he would have a secure job in Newcastle's growing yacht building industry.

"Right at the moment I'm feeling very uncertain, we're just in limbo," Mr Astley said.

The men said they were owed a week's wages, and were told by the company to go home and wait for a phone call.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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