There was plenty of concern, a bit of anger and, understandably, a few tears at Wednesday night’s ‘‘Save Our Steel’’ meeting. 

A crowd, estimated to be at least 300 people, packed into the upstairs function room at the Fraternity Club in Fairy Meadow.

Above them, fairy lights that stretched across the ceiling from a central fixture became an analogy - BlueScope Steel at Port Kembla was in the centre and the ‘‘tentacles of lights’’ were the jobs it provides and the region it supports. 

The gathering was a show of solidarity, a show of spirit and a show of fight as the community rallied to urge the government to use Australian steel in its projects.

‘‘If you don’t do this, we will not vote for you,’’ one worker warned the government, as he addressed the crowd.

Sime Jovanovski, who has worked for BlueScope for 25 years, said the word closure being thrown around was ‘‘a big thing’’.

‘‘It’s about out future, it’s about our kids’ future,’’ Mr Jovanovski told the Mercury.

‘‘We’re all worried and all stressed ... I can see the worried looks on people’s faces.’’

Australian Workers Union branch secretary Wayne Phillips told the gathering the steelworks at Port Kembla was ‘‘in crisis’’ and its closure would be ‘‘catastrophic’’.

‘‘We are in for one hell of a ride, one that's never been seen in this country before,’’ Mr Phillips said. 

The union boss added Port Kembla steel  was ‘‘one of the best grades of steel you can get anywhere in the world’’.

South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris described the past few weeks as ‘‘difficult’’, as the gravity of the situation of BlueScope’s cost-cutting measures began to sink in. 

‘‘The gravity of this has got to be front and centre in Canberra,’’ Mr Rorris said.

Throsby MP Stephen Jones said he and Member for Cunningham Sharon Bird had briefed federal opposition leader Bill Shorten on the meeting and and it’s resolution. 

‘‘We understand the importance of the steelworks to this region, the economy and the nation at large,’’ Mr Jones said.

Ms Bird said the entire community had a long history with BlueScope. 

‘‘It’s the life stories, it’s the futures of our kids ... and it’s worth fighting for," she said.

The region’s state politicians were missing, as Parliament is sitting this week.  

NSW Teachers Federation TAFE organiser Rob Long also addressed the meeting, saying the campaign was ‘‘central to the future of our apprentices’’. 

Yellow A4 pieces of paper, somewhat reflective of the yellow and blue uniform donned by so many BlueScope workers present, were later raised above attendees’ heads.

The display was a unanimous vote in favour of escalating the campaign to ‘‘Save Our Steel’’ industry, through the following resolution: 

The meeting also resolved to issue a plea for all levels of government to support a new ‘‘steel deal’’:

1. A change in the Public Procurement framework - A Buy Australian Act mandating 50% of Australian Steel in all federal and state infrastructure projects.

2. An immediate change to government policy in the interim requiring use of Australian steel in all publicly-funded infrastructure, including the South Australian ship building and future submarine projects - citing the Victorian government’s recent decision to use 100% Australian steel in its infrastructure projects.

3. A mandatory auditing process to ensure that requirements for Australian-made steel in publicly-funded projects is actually implemented. 

4. An urgent Steel Summit be held involving the steel produces, unions and federal ministerial level representation with the explicit objective of reaching agreement on key principles to prevent a shutdown of steelmaking in Port Kembla and Australia more broadly.