Former Labor politician John Price determined to preserve memory of Hunter's great shipbuilding heritage

John Price with a picture of forgotten major shipbuilding at the old Walsh Island yard. Picture: Mike Scanlon

The excitement was palpable.

At first, nothing seemed to happen then the big ship slowly slid backwards down the slipway. Acres of chains rattled trying to slow the passage of the steel behemoth mixing with the smell of hot grease from the friction of the metal giant breaking free of its bonds.