Former Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, has been the subject of much attention of late what with the ABC’s documentary Menzies and Churchill at War and Graham Freudenberg’s whopper book , Churchill and Australia. Fancy Lady Astor wanting to give Ming her sapphires if he stayed on in London to help monster Winnie the War Winner.
Another titled lady is also said to have offered him access to her jewels. After being rejected by his own party, the United Australia Party,during WW11, Menzies formed the Liberal Party of Australia and went on to reign for many years as PM. His ideology is often trumpeted as being still very strong in the Libs. The first part in the Howard Years TV series on the ABC said Howard , like Menzies, flew the Australian flag from his car.
If Howard was keen to ape the founder of the Libs , then here is a strange story which could explain the Howard regime’s brutal attitude to boat people. It comes from the l937 book Round The World by Tom Clarke , director of a global organisation which sold practical journalism diploma courses. Menzies was travelling aboard the liner Strathaird between England and Australia and in his capacity as Attorney – General expressed a hardline attitude to a lovable stowaway.
This was no ordinary stowaway. It was a soap eating duck . The duck flew in after the vessel docked at Marseilles , France, made itself at home, and refused to flap off. A young English girl literally saved the duck’s neck when she begged the shipping company not to kill the bird, quickly named Donald Duck. She offered to look after the duck until it could be landed in some port of call on the way to Australia. The duck got into trouble by quacking loudly at night and eating soap. Malta refused to allow the duck ashore.
In an ominous move, Donald was placed in the tender care of the ship’s butcher. After the duck was refused entry at other ports, it was suggested it could go all the way to Orstralia. Menzies was asked for a legal opinion on the reception for the duck here. To quote from the book :” His reply was too evasive to be comforting for those who had the interests of Donald at heart. ”
Thankfully, the duck was taken ashore in a paper bag at Bombay and given to a friend who promised to look after him . Some cruel passengers suggested Donald Duck would end up Bombay Duck , the dish you get with a dash of Clive of India curry powder.
Another titled lady is also said to have offered him access to her jewels. After being rejected by his own party, the United Australia Party,during WW11, Menzies formed the Liberal Party of Australia and went on to reign for many years as PM. His ideology is often trumpeted as being still very strong in the Libs. The first part in the Howard Years TV series on the ABC said Howard , like Menzies, flew the Australian flag from his car.
If Howard was keen to ape the founder of the Libs , then here is a strange story which could explain the Howard regime’s brutal attitude to boat people. It comes from the l937 book Round The World by Tom Clarke , director of a global organisation which sold practical journalism diploma courses. Menzies was travelling aboard the liner Strathaird between England and Australia and in his capacity as Attorney – General expressed a hardline attitude to a lovable stowaway.
This was no ordinary stowaway. It was a soap eating duck . The duck flew in after the vessel docked at Marseilles , France, made itself at home, and refused to flap off. A young English girl literally saved the duck’s neck when she begged the shipping company not to kill the bird, quickly named Donald Duck. She offered to look after the duck until it could be landed in some port of call on the way to Australia. The duck got into trouble by quacking loudly at night and eating soap. Malta refused to allow the duck ashore.
In an ominous move, Donald was placed in the tender care of the ship’s butcher. After the duck was refused entry at other ports, it was suggested it could go all the way to Orstralia. Menzies was asked for a legal opinion on the reception for the duck here. To quote from the book :” His reply was too evasive to be comforting for those who had the interests of Donald at heart. ”
Thankfully, the duck was taken ashore in a paper bag at Bombay and given to a friend who promised to look after him . Some cruel passengers suggested Donald Duck would end up Bombay Duck , the dish you get with a dash of Clive of India curry powder.
