During the extensive rerun on television of Bob Hawke footage from the files , including his time as Prime Minister of Australia , many viewers across the nation could not believe their eyes when they saw a dapper figure in a suit : Pete Steedman, the Black Knight of Melbourne , former Member for Casey. This is the guy who challenged conventional dress worn in parliament house Canberra , got about in a leather jacket , was voted Politician of the Year , carried a sharp implement down a leather boot with which to manicure his nails .
On seeing Steedman in a bag of fruit , like a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce , with Hawke pressing flesh at a public event , Little Darwin rang Steedman and demanded an explanation . Yes, he was that toff in the film . The PM was visiting the Hurstbridge school in the Casey electorate in Victoria and Pete had worn a suit , looking like a conservative old boy .
Most times he was seen getting about on a valuable early motorbike, wearing dark glasses , Elvis looking , or in a sleek limo , cars one of his loves , now down to his last Bentley.
Steedman said he had received calls from far and wide asking him if he was that well dressed dude with the PM. With some reluctance , he had pleaded guilty . But to atone for the blot against his wild boyo image , he had once , with great relish, invaded the Melbourne Club without a tie , causing apoplexy , alarm bells to ring .
Pete went to Darwin after Cyclone Tracy and did mighty work, mixing with a tattered and motley crew of journos , including Jim "Flasher" Oram ,who flew into the wrecked , steamy city from Sydney in a suit and quickly shed the coat , cut the trousers off at the knees with a pair of scissors .
As far as is known , there is no known footage of Steedman similarly clad , as PM Hawke , above , in bodgie budgie smugglers , said to be bigger than those worn by former PM Tony Abbott.
As far as is known , there is no known footage of Steedman similarly clad , as PM Hawke , above , in bodgie budgie smugglers , said to be bigger than those worn by former PM Tony Abbott.
