Ten years ago Paul Mees, the academic and transport activist, died of cancer. Ray Cassin writing for this masthead in June 2013 paid tribute to Paul. ‘Paul was a scholar and teacher with an international reputation in the field of urban studies. He was an activist who never shrank from a fight, whether with politicians, bureaucrats, or academic hierarchies,’ he wrote. ‘And he was also a man of deep faith, evidenced not least in his contributions over the years to Eureka Street, and before that to the defunct Catholic Worker.’
Shortly after Paul’s death an Age editorial headed ‘A Voice of Reason is Lost’, described the profound impact he had made. Paul used his ‘expertise selflessly and determinedly expertise for more than two decades to analyse, question and criticise this state’s neglect of public transport in favour of roads,’ the editorial said.
Former Labor MP Telmo Languiller told the Victorian Parliament on behalf of the then member for Northcote, Fiona Richardson, who has also since died of cancer, that ‘we have all lost a fierce advocate for public transport but above all a decent bloke who was not afraid to fight for what he believed in’. And, former South Australian Greens senator Penny Wright gave a moving acknowledgement in Federal Parliament of Paul’s work and spoke about their enduring friendship which started at Melbourne University when they were both studying law.
Even those who had not always agreed with Paul acknowledged his contribution to public transport debates. In a tribute to Paul, the then planning minister Matthew Guy said, ‘I respected him. I respected his intellect - he was a giant of transport issues in this city…it will be strange him being absent from the transport debate in this state.’
Paul was my husband, and I knew how much he wanted to live to carry on his work to improve urban living conditions in city and regional areas. He had already published two books on transport planning, numerous peer reviewed articles, and had a mountain of ideas to research and write about. He also wanted to carry on with his activism, which was based on meticulous research and his sense of social justice.
His dogged determination to improve public transport and reveal the folly of road transport schemes that could harm communities is reflected in the events a couple of weeks before his death. A public meeting had been organised at the Fitzroy Town Hall to kick off the campaign against the building of the East West Link, that would cost billions and force the destruction of homes and sections of Royal Park.
Paul, who had been in a wheelchair for five months, was too ill to attend to give the keynote speech. Instead, a Swinburne University student came to our home to video him saying some words which were shown at the meeting. He described the scheme as ‘mad’ and said billions spent on it would mean no more money for public transport. People who attended the meeting said they could hear a pin drop during the three-and-half-minute video.
"The Age editorial in June 2013 described Paul as ‘no ivory-tower academic but a strap-hanging fellow traveller’. That is how Paul should be remembered."
Eighteen months after Paul’s death, Melbourne University Press published, The Public City: Essays in Honour of Paul Mees. The chapters take up Paul’s ideas and expand on them. I also wrote a chapter about Paul, the scholar and activist. Sir Peter Hall, the pre-eminent English planner, who has since died, wrote the book’s forward and in the opening paragraph said this about Paul:
‘Paul Mees as one of Nature’s originals. He never followed the established research paradigm, even to tweak it: he went head-on to challenge it. That was what made his contributions so startling fresh: once you started to read them, they came almost like a sudden cold shower, forcing you to clear your head and rid it of all preconceived ideas.’
Paul’s approach as described by Sir Peter is no better reflected in his work that questioned the conventional wisdom that increasing Australia’s urban densities by getting people into medium and high-rise apartments is a necessary pre-condition for sustainability. Paul was also instrumental in helping to modify attitudes that building freeways eased traffic congestion.
Paul’s critiquing of Victoria’s transport and urban planning schemes meant his ideas were also scrutinised. He welcomed this because he wanted academic and public debate on urban planning issues. But at times, the pushback against Paul’s ideas and activism was personal. Some people in the then department of transport would refer to Paul as ‘Voldemort’, the arch enemy of Harry Potter in the JK Rowling series of Harry Potter books.
Paul was also the subject of a Melbourne University investigation in 2008 after the head of a State Government department made a complaint to the university two months after a comment Paul made in a public forum. The story, which was front page news in The Age and the subject of follow up stories, features and an editorial, shone a spotlight on academic freedom.
These episodes never stopped Paul from his activism. But they did take a toll on him personally. The university’s action gutted Paul, and he eventually left Melbourne for RMIT University. At his farewell, Paul was in tears. Activists like Paul are often viewed as Telflon-coated, but Paul was not. He had a tender and affable side reflected in his interactions with a range of people, including his friends, colleagues and people from the media.
Since Paul’s death, many level crossings have been removed, something Paul always campaigned for. A new public transport ticketing contract with Conduent Business Services has been signed. Paul would certainly have had something to say about ticketing systems and contracts.
And, then there are Metro Tunnel and Suburban Rail Loop builds. I can’t speak on Paul’s behalf, but he certainly would have produced exemplary research to explain the schemes’ pros and cons. He never tired of pointing out how relatively minor improvements could add major value to transport services without spending millions.
The Age editorial in June 2013 described Paul as ‘no ivory-tower academic but a strap-hanging fellow traveller’. That is how Paul should be remembered.
Dr Erica Cervini is a freelance journalist and sessional academic.
Main image: Paul Mees (Supplied).