46 years on, USU General Secretary Graeme Kelly OAM, USU President Sharon Sewell along with Officials and Delegates stand in remembrance of the victims of the Hilton Bombing – a tragic event that drives us to continue our unwavering commitment to changing the rules and systems to achieve safe and secure workplaces for all Australians.

 
Every year the USU honours the Anniversary Memorial of the Hilton Hotel Bombing, which claimed the lives of two of our members – William Favell and Alec Carter. 
 
Police Officer Paul Brimistriw also tragically lost his life in the Hilton Bombing attack of 1978. Two more MEU members, colleagues Billy Ebb and John Watson, were injured in the blast.
 
Alec, William, Billy, and John were part of a garbage collection team from the City of Sydney Phillip Park Cleansing Depot. They were completing their duties in the early morning of February 13th. Alec and William had just loaded the last bins from the Hilton Hotel. As they began to leave an explosion engulfed the truck.
 
In the wake of the attack the MEU raised over $150,000 dollars for the families of Alec and William. That is just under $1 million dollars in today’s money.
 
The MEU made a promise to the families and colleagues to never forget, and we at the USU will continue to keep that promise.
 
Thank you to everyone who joined us to remember them on this day as we do every year.