Wayne Ward is the author of six novels all with a maritime theme, reflecting his long life at sea. Joining his first ship in 1955 he soon realised the bond that united seamen and m...view moreWayne Ward is the author of six novels all with a maritime theme, reflecting his long life at sea. Joining his first ship in 1955 he soon realised the bond that united seamen and made them warriors of the working class, the forefront of struggle against the establishment. It imbued in him a sense of belonging to a band of self-efficient men who at sea couldnt call the fire brigade, emergency services, ambulance, confessor, or respite from the fiercest and most unforgiving element on earth, the sea.
Saltwater Messiahs barely ripples the surface of an era when the working class with a united voice could and did dictate terms to government and employers. Sadly, no more are the seamen who briefly coloured this drab world with their presence, their unconquerable spirit and their grim determination to right wrongs.
Many renowned writers have written about the sea, some even experiencing it, Wayne Ward the latter recording an era far removed from the sterile environment of modern shipping. His three sons are master mariners, a single partner in life living on the serene shores of Wangi Wangi, Lake Macquarie.view less