The late Sir Zelman Cowen, above, had some frightening experiences in Darwin . A sub-lieutenant in the Naval Reserve, he was in Darwin the night news came through about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour , December 7,1941. He read signals conveying the shock news of the “day of infamy”. As the duty officer, he had to decide whether to wake the frightening skipper , Captain E.P. Thomas, and inform him of the momentous raid.
He described the scary task of interrupting the captain's slumber thus :"I must say that there was no man with whom or for whom I have ever worked of whom I was more frightened than Captain E.P. Thomas. I woke him , handed him the signals, which he took calmly and meekly enough, and then, presumably, for I know not went on in the houses of frightening captains , went back to bed ."
Then the Japanese bombed Darwin on February 19,1942 , and Cowen dived for cover; he was sent south to a naval hospital in April or May.
When vice -chancellor of Queensland University, Zelman Cowen had dealings with author Xavier Herbert , a staunch republican , who wrote the Territory based books Capricornia and Poor Fellow my Country. When Cowen was knighted in 1976, Herbert sent him a “fearsome letter”of denunciation , saying he had done a terrible thing.
Herbert fired another fearsome broadside at Sir Zelman when he became the Governor- General,saying he ( Herbert )could have nothing further to do with him because he had become the representative of the worst type of elitism there is-hereditary rule. That isolation would continue unless he indicated he had taken the post to "white- ant" the office and become the first administrator of a free nation. Sir Zelman did not reply, according to Herbert.
Just to indicate the depth of his anger, Herbert said he would throw rocks on the roof of the vice-regal residence , Yarralumla, while Sir Zelman was enthroned there. However , during a visit to Cairns , Sir Zelman contacted Herbert and they dined together. A reader of the Cairns Post asked what Xavier Herbert, arch republican, was doing hobnobbing with the Governor-General. In reply, Herbert said he was trying to white-ant the GG and also draw attention to the subject of republicanism . Another reason was that Sir Zelman was helping honour Sadie, Herbert’s late wife, whose painting had been put on display in Cairns . Sir Zelman had a sketch of Xavier Herbert by artist Ray Crooke in his private collection.
Herbert sent Sir Zelman the typescript section dealing with the bombing of Darwin in Poor Fellow My Country for comment; he replied saying it was just as he had seen it- " from the deepest dugout in town."
In 1978 , Sir Zelman again came " under fire " in Darwin - outrageous verbal abuse and even flying eggs. The extraordinary event involved the ceremonial opening of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. Part of the action took part in the street outside the Assembly. Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and daughter sat on a dais; some people expressed political displeasure- catcalling, waving placards, one against Pancontinental, and jeering. When Chief Minister Paul Everingham arrived there was some hearty booing. He responded with a distinctive hand motion, which caused louder shouting. Intelligence came through that there were several dozen eggs "out there ". Some suddenly grew wings and flew through the air . The Governor- General bravely drove up and inspected a naval guard of honour - see photo at top of post . Police were anxiously standing by ready to deflect an egg with a lightning hand movement like a ninja turtle or grab anyone who looked like chucking one .
At a subsequent parliamentary debate over the official opening, Everingham said some terrible things had been shouted as the GG went about his duty, and mentioned one particularly nasty statement which applied to the GG. According to Everingham, the honour naval guard probably had to restrain themselves from turning on those responsible for the abuse. It was decided that a special copy of the Hansard covering the opening debate should not include the offensive personal abuse allegedly directed at Sir Zelman.
After Sir Zelman stepped down as the Queen’s representative in Australia, he later supported the republic in a public letter . Herbert’s rock throwing may have influenced that decision after all . In any case, Herbert contacted recipients of the first Order of Australia and scornfully said they were based on the old Imperial Honours and should be returned.One of those who did return the O.A- which Herbert dubbed the "Order of Arseholes"-was H. C. "Nugget" Coombs, an ardent campaigner for Aboriginal rights and reconciliation.
Sir Zelman, flanked by ramrod-straight personal secretary and aide-de-camp, looking somewhat apprehensive at the official opening of the Northern Territory Assembly after the hijnks that went on outside the building. Following the entertainment and refreshments after the opening, Queensland Premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, held an impromptu media conference outside the toilets and warned "the chooks" that Aboriginal land rights would be a disaster for the NT ; Doug Anthony , in effect , told Joh to put a sock in his gob , as it was a special Territory occasion.---By Peter Simon
Sir Zelman, flanked by ramrod-straight personal secretary and aide-de-camp, looking somewhat apprehensive at the official opening of the Northern Territory Assembly after the hijnks that went on outside the building. Following the entertainment and refreshments after the opening, Queensland Premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, held an impromptu media conference outside the toilets and warned "the chooks" that Aboriginal land rights would be a disaster for the NT ; Doug Anthony , in effect , told Joh to put a sock in his gob , as it was a special Territory occasion.---By Peter Simon
