Proud cries of "who's town? Uniontown" echoed along Crown Street as hundreds of workers took to the streets of Wollongong for International Workers Day on Saturday.
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The annual May Day march had nurses, teachers and other frontline workers front and centre this year, in recognition of their work through the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the battles nurses, teachers and paramedics are currently fighting for improved pay and staffing levels.
President of the May Day committee Mick Cross said the May Day March is "a celebration of struggle".
"It's a wonderful day, it's a celebration of what we've achieved and looking forward to continue to struggle together for a better life for all," he said.
"We're still fighting for wages and conditions - we've seen the government sit on their hands with nurses and teachers when they've been working so hard, it's a disgrace."
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said the march had a long and proud history in the Illawarra.
"The coalminers were the greatest inspiration for workers across industries to work together, not just for pay and conditions, but to improve services across the whole community," he said.
"The way we got some hospitals on the South Coast was miners docking their pay to get nurses into hospitals.
"The data shows this is the most unionised region in the country and with a foundation like that it's no surprise.
"Working people in the region have had incredible giants, legends fighting for the community throughout history, and this is their legacy."
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One of those legends was Fred Moore, who, for the first time in almost 90 years, was not at the march.
The man described as "the greatest South Coast unionist ever to march the streets", died peacefully on January 21, surrounded by family just short of his 100th birthday.
Mr Rorris said it was "bittersweet" to march without Fred.
"Fred was not there in person, but he was certainly there in spirit," he said.
"We marched with Fred in our hearts and in our thoughts.
"We had such a passionate and strong march that we know his legacy lives on."
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