Category Archives: Tributes

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 →

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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 →

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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

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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

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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 →

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