A Clonmel man who served as Harbour Master of both Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay in Australia during the course of a distinguished maritime career will publish his autobiography later this year.
‘The Propellor Keeps Turning’ is the title of the autobiography of Captain Liam Gavin, and which is due for release next September.
Liam grew up in Millhouse, Rathronan, Clonmel, the son of Tom Gavin, who owned the Clonmel Cycle Company department store at 8/9 Parnell Street, Clonmel; and Kathleen Gavin.
In his own words, Liam was “packed off” to Blackrock College, Dublin, as a boarder. He went to sea at the age of 17 with Irish Shipping, returning on leave to his home in Rathronan after long periods away.
Having witnessed the early years of General Cargo ships and the change to containerisation, he attended the Plymouth Maritime College in England, taking part in survival exercises on Dartmoor.
He sailed on the Tectona, the sailing vessel that was built in 1928, when it was taking part in The Onedin Line, the BBC television drama series that ran from 1971 to 1980.
Liam emigrated to Australia in 1988 and worked for Patrick Stevedores. Five years later he was promoted to Harbour Master of both Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay, having been headhunted for the position of Deputy Harbour Master of Sydney Ports earlier in 1993.
As the only Irish person to hold this ministerial appointment, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, presented him with an Individual Business Achievement Award in Sydney in 1998, and he was interviewed by the late Gay Byrne on his RTÉ radio show.
In his role as Harbour Master of Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay, he was responsible for port assets worth over 2.5 billion dollars. A member of the executive, he managed the day-to-day business of the ports. His duties also included resolving complex issues, and planning and implementing future strategies, coupled with investment capital to guarantee future expansion of the ports to meet the growing demand for services.
He was a member/chairman of some 18 committees associated with the Sydney Olympics in 2000, including road transport and waterborne security.
He describes the task of getting Sydney Ports through the Sydney Olympics as one of the most interesting experiences of his career.
His role as Harbour Master of Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay also included responsibility for the management of shipping schedules and port charges, hazardous goods and the emergency response.
He oversaw pilotage and tug services for both ports and issued pilot and local knowledge certificates.
“In 1998 there was a major waterfront dispute between the waterfront workers and the federal government,” he says. “As a result, half of all stevedoring (cargo) operations were shut down.
“I successfully negotiated a truce between the unions and the remaining stevedore operators that allowed trade to continue. This achievement was recognised by the New South Wales Government and I received the personal thanks of the Premier for my role, tact and diplomacy in the avoidance of any escalation of events during that Easter weekend of 1998”.
Liam, who still lives in Sydney, had the opportunity to meet the leaders of many countries, including Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
His sister, Emer Gavin Norris, lives in Butlerstown, Ballyneale, Carrick-on-Suir, while his other sister was the late Deirdre Meade, who lived in Castleknock, Dublin.
He says that his autobiography covers his life at sea, starting with Irish Shipping and then working for Maersk Line in Denmark, when he was promoted to ship’s captain at the age of 29.
In addition to his work, it also features his exploits and the places visited, as well as his life after the sea, when he moved on to become a college lecturer, having attended university, and then returning to the sea, as well as other roles.