Category Archives: Tributes

BINOY KAMPMARK. Des Ball: The man who sank the myth of controlled nuclear warfare

Posted on 22 October 2016

The late Professor Des Ball of the Australian National University’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre came as close as any on being a public intellectual on nuclear strategy. While some of his counterparts in the United States felt that using … Continue reading →

Posted in Defence/Security, Politics, Tributes | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

NICHOLAS FARRELLY. What is King Bhumibol’s legacy?

Posted on 15 October 2016

New Mandala co-founder Nicholas Farrelly reflects on a remarkable and contentious reign. The 70-year reign of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej started and ended inauspiciously. It was a family tragedy that unexpectedly brought Bhumibol to the throne. He went on to … Continue reading →

Posted in International Affairs, Tributes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on NICHOLAS FARRELLY. What is King Bhumibol’s legacy?

GRAHAM FREUDENBERG. On Gough Whitlam’s 100th birthday, 11 July 2016.

Posted on 11 July 2016

This tribute is being published as a foreword to the book ‘Not just for this life’. Wendy Guest has put together all the tributes paid to Gough Whitlam in the House and the Senate in October 2014. This tribute to … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Tributes | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Eric Walsh. Tribute to Brian Johns.

Posted on 12 January 2016

The death of Brian Francis Johns, 79, in the early hours of New Years Day marked the end of one of the most impressive Australian media careers of the last half century. During this period Johns engaged in and excelled … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Politics, Tributes | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

John Menadue. Vale Malcolm Fraser.

Posted on 11 January 2016

Repost from 21/03/2015 I am sure that Malcolm Fraser’s concerns for human rights were always there. But as he grew and matured, that concern flourished and became obvious to all. He became our moral compass on human rights. I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Indigenous affairs, Politics, Refugees, Immigration, Tributes | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Edmund Campion. Homily for the funeral service of Brian Johns.

Posted on 8 January 2016

Family, friends, colleagues of Brian Johns. The other morning, after Brian had died, it came to me, so this is the end of a conversation that endured for more than sixty years. Then I recalled that one name had dominated … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Religion and Faith, Tributes | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Julianne Schultz. Tribute to Brian Johns.

Posted on 8 January 2016

Brian Johns: A critical Australian romantic Brian had a gift for friendship. I first got to know him in the late 1970s; I know that many of you knew him for longer. Over the years as some of his closest … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Tributes | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Tributes to Malcolm Fraser.

Posted on 22 March 2015

See below, tributes from Fred Chaney and Robert Manne on Malcolm Fraser’s achievements in public life. John Mendue. Fred Chaney in The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/20/malcolm-fraser-a-leader-who-believed-there-is-a-moral-compass-in-our-nations-life Robert Manne in The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/20/frasers-great-conservative-achievement-cementing-whitlams-progress-on-race

Posted in Defence/Security, Human Rights, Indigenous affairs, International Affairs, Politics, Refugees, Immigration, Tributes | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Ian Macphee. Personal memories of Malcolm Fraser.

Posted on 22 March 2015

I first met Malcolm in 1973 when he was shadow minister for Industrial Relations in the Coalition opposition. I was Director of the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures and intensely involved in industrial relations. Malcolm had just been given that responsibility … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Refugees, Immigration, Tributes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Ian Macphee. Personal memories of Malcolm Fraser.

Graham Freudenberg. Gough Whitlam Commemorative Oration.

Posted on 4 March 2015

 You will see below what I think is a remarkable speech by Graham Freudenberg about Gough Whitlam’s contemporary relevance.  This oration is much longer than I normally post on this blog, but it is an outstanding oration which I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Health, Human Rights, International Affairs, Media, Politics, Refugees, Immigration, Tributes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Graham Freudenberg. Gough Whitlam Commemorative Oration.

Graham Freudenberg. Gough being Gough.

Posted on 12 December 2014

LAUNCH OF JAMES CARLETON’S ‘THE WIT OF WHITLAM’,BELLEVUE HOTEL, PADDINGTON, NSW, 8 DECEMBER 2014 As Henry Kissinger discovered to his chagrin in Beijing in 1971, Gough made a habit of getting there first.  The Bellevue is no exception.  Most of … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Politics, Tributes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Graham Freudenberg. Gough being Gough.

Steve FitzGerald on Gough Whitlam, Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou

Posted on 17 November 2014

Of the many things I admired and loved about Gough, one of the most delicious, next to our shared liking for food, was that he was the best person I’ve ever been privileged to brief. It wasn’t just that he … Continue reading →

Posted in International Affairs, Politics, Tributes | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

John Mant. Tribute to Gough Whitlam

Posted on 10 November 2014

It is difficult to make this speech – so much to say about this great man and his times. I observed him from a number of angles: Working with Tom Uren and Gough Whitlam on urban policy proposals before the … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Tributes | Tagged , | Comments Off on John Mant. Tribute to Gough Whitlam

Antony Whitlam. Tribute to Gough Whitlam

Posted on 7 November 2014

The Honourable (Edward) Gough Whitlam, AC QC State Memorial Service The Honourable Antony Whitlam QC Sydney Town Hall 5 November 2014   Auntie Millie Ingram gave a moving Welcome to Country. I also wish to acknowledge the Gadigal people of … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Tributes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Antony Whitlam. Tribute to Gough Whitlam

Noel Pearson. Tribute to Gough Whitlam.

Posted on 6 November 2014

The Honourable (Edward) Gough Whitlam, AC QC State Memorial Service Noel Pearson Sydney Town Hall 5 November 2014   Paul Keating said the reward for public life is public progress. For one born estranged from the nation’s citizenship, into a … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Tributes | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

John Faulkner. Tribute to Gough Whitlam

Posted on 6 November 2014

The Honourable (Edward) Gough Whitlam, AC QC Senator John Faulkner State Memorial Service Sydney Town Hall 5 November 2014 “Dying will happen sometime.  As you know, I plan for the ages, not just for this life.” As those words show, … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Tributes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on John Faulkner. Tribute to Gough Whitlam

Graham Freudenberg AM. Tribute to Gough Whitlam.

Posted on 5 November 2014

The Honourable (Edward) Gough Whitlam, AC QC State Memorial Service Graham Freudenberg AM Sydney Town Hall 5 November 2014   This is the greatest privilege of my very privileged life.  And I thank the Whitlam Family for it. Gough Whitlam … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Tributes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Graham Freudenberg AM. Tribute to Gough Whitlam.

Richard Woolcott. Whitlam on the world stage: Courage, vision and wit

Posted on 5 November 2014

Gough Whitlam had political courage and a vision for Australia. A forward-looking, pragmatic realist, he sought to reshape Australia’s approach to the countries of North and Southeast Asia, the region in which we are forever situated. It was stimulating to … Continue reading →

Posted in International Affairs, Tributes | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Eric Walsh. Gough Whitlam – Australia’s greatest reforming Prime Minister.

Posted on 29 October 2014

Australian media had never seen anything like it. Suddenly print, radio, television and social media were overwhelmed – blanket coverage of a single event. Edward Gough Whitlam, Australia’s 21st and greatest reforming Prime Minister, was dead. Newspapers were turned over to … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Politics, Tributes | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Kelvin Canavan.   Gough Whitlam: a tribute to an education visionary.  

Posted on 29 October 2014

I first met E. G. Whitlam when he spoke at a series of ‘State Aid’ rallies in Sydney prior to the 1969 federal election.  He was in full voice before a Catholic community that had packed halls and cinemas on … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Politics, Religion and Faith, Tributes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Kelvin Canavan.   Gough Whitlam: a tribute to an education visionary.  

Mike Steketee. Whitlam: the power of persuasion.

Posted on 27 October 2014

This article was first published by The Drum. Gough Whitlam’s sheer presence, drive and ambitions disguised some deep flaws. But his vision and achievements stand in stark contrast to the politics we often have seen since, writes Mike Steketee. “It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Tributes | Tagged , | Comments Off on Mike Steketee. Whitlam: the power of persuasion.

Race Mathews. Whitlam eyed our conscience, not our wallet.

Posted on 26 October 2014

Gough Whitlam’s objective was equality for all. He believed the proper business of politics was to secure informed public consent for necessary change, through objective information from trusted sources. He gave back hope to my generation of Labor Party members. … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Politics, Tributes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Race Mathews. Whitlam eyed our conscience, not our wallet.

George Lekakis recalls meeting Gough Whitlam.

Posted on 22 October 2014

​ Dear John I just wanted to share a memory or two with you before this day is over. My father came to Australia in 1954 and he always told me that he never felt Australian until Gough was elected … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Refugees, Immigration, Tributes | Tagged , | Comments Off on George Lekakis recalls meeting Gough Whitlam.

Frank Brennan.  My tribute to Gough

Posted on 21 October 2014

Gough Whitlam once asked me why there were so many social reformers to emerge from Queensland in the early 1970s.  I told him it was simple.  We had someone to whom we could react: Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen; and we … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Religion and Faith, Tributes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Frank Brennan.  My tribute to Gough

John Faulkner. Gough Whitlam – Academy awards and Passiona!

Posted on 21 October 2014

At the ALP Caucus today John Faulkner spoke movingly of Gough Whitlam as a towering figure in the ALP. The link to his speech follows: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/edward-gough-whitlam-labor-party-caucus-condolence-motion-20141021-119b4y.html John Menadue

Posted in Politics, Tributes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on John Faulkner. Gough Whitlam – Academy awards and Passiona!

John Menadue. Farewell to Gough Whitlam, 21 October 2014

Posted on 21 October 2014

Few public figures have left their mark on Australia like Gough Whitlam. I knew him for fifty years. He was the most exciting and challenging public person I have met.  Australians owe him a great debt for giving them new … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Tributes | Tagged , | 6 Comments