By Peter Simon
Over the years , I have amassed an odd collection of items , even a recipe of his which I think included carrots , and anecdotes from which I draw for this brief tribute to a remarkable Australian who did bring the nation together, a situation that does not exist today because of the chaotic and divisive Coalition.
Hawke lost the dog owners vote when he "performed " at an ALP event in Darwin back in the days when he was the prominent , eloquent and aggressive Australian Council of Trade Unions spokesman. It was held at the private residence of a couple who were preparing finger food, their young Alsatian , Sheba , romping about, excited by the activity . Delivered by car , Hawke , well lubricated , reeled into the grounds , flopped down on a chair.
Sheba then ran over and nuzzled up to Bob , which resulted in him grabbing the animal and roughly examining its fur . After declaring it had the worst definition of any Alsatian he had ever seen , he told it to go away. Sheba, attracted by Hawke's animal magnetism, thought it was a game , continued nuzzling him .
Sheba's owner, chopping up meat with a large knife, was heard say angrily to her husband , something to the effect, " Can you hear what that bloody Hawke is saying about our Sheba ?"
A Darwin woman who witnessed the episode , owner of a part Beagle , called Rangi , after the famous Maori guide , said Hawke gave the dog a kick and drove it away . Asked to wear a black armband on voting day for Hawke , this woman declined , said she would never wear one for anyone who kicked a dog .
None of the two aspirants for the Prime Ministership today would dare be seen treating a canine in this fashion .
Later on , when I was press secretary for the Northern Territory Leader of the Opposition , Jon Isaacs, I saw Hawke at his brilliant best , a great orator , flamboyant , imperious at times , another Bill Clinton .
Along the way , while searching far and wide for books , ephemera , photos, old bottles , china and any oddities under the sun , I came across two items related to Bob Hawke's father , Clem , a minister of religion . One was a church account book which showed how little money his father was paid as a minister . It was found in second hand shop on the Yorke Peninsula , South Australia , from which was also bought several crates of old bottles (not formerly the property of Clem).
At an Adelaide garage sale an unexpected find was a book bearing Clem Hawke's handwritten signature and the suburb of Norton Summit, where he lived late in life. Entitled Drifting Wreckage , by W.Lockhart Morton , of Adelaide , with a preface by Reverend J. Chapman ,D.D., of New York , it contained interesting details of early church activities in Australia .
It is impossible to discuss Bob Hawke's achievements without acknowledging the massive support and part played by first wife Hazel , a truly grand woman .
At an Adelaide garage sale an unexpected find was a book bearing Clem Hawke's handwritten signature and the suburb of Norton Summit, where he lived late in life. Entitled Drifting Wreckage , by W.Lockhart Morton , of Adelaide , with a preface by Reverend J. Chapman ,D.D., of New York , it contained interesting details of early church activities in Australia .
It is impossible to discuss Bob Hawke's achievements without acknowledging the massive support and part played by first wife Hazel , a truly grand woman .
HAWKE WINS BACK DOG OWNERS IN HERBERT
When the above R.I.P. sign for Bob Hawke was chalked up on Magnetic Island , North Queensland , a hound of the same breed as that of the ones in President Obama's family , Portuguese Water Dog , heard the departed PM's name mentioned , peered out from next to a poster for Cathy O'Toole, the ALP incumbent for Herbert, being savaged by massive mad dog political forces, vested interests and the Murdoch media. As expected, a Townsville Bulletin editorial said to vote for the Coalition . At the same time ,on Magnetic Island , a days old Murdoch Brisbane Courier Mail poster was highlighting Nigella's chicken roasting secrets on the eve of the election .
