Darryl Noack comments on the difficulties involved in his early role as a shop steward, ranging from his young age, inexperience, and the limited presence of FIA organisers from Brisbane and the absence of paid FIA organisers in North Queensland. He discusses the opening of a union sub branch in Townsville, led by secretary Harry Peebles, and how this impacted on the quality of unionism in his workplace, as well as the assistance of Fred Thompson.