During his action packed life Pete Steedman was urged on several occasions to write a book about his involvement in so many issues ,including his strong stand against the Vietnam War and conscription, fascistm , his influence on war reporting in London, his part in the Cyclone Tracy aftermath , promoting music in Australia , editing an ALP newspaper , narrowly avoiding being murdered in Afghanistan.
Along the way , apart from being named Australian politiician of the year, he was bashed , threatened , the government considered charging him with subversion , and he narrowly escaped being mauled by the notorious kray Brothers in London.
Unfortunately, he never got round to writing that book and now he is fighting cancer, told he does not have long to live. This blog attempted to cover his colourful life in about 57 truncated parts, including the episode when he threatened the great American protest singer Bob Dylan with a knife in Melbourne.
One of those who strongly urged him to write his memoirs was prominent Australian playwright and screenwriter David Williamson , whose rural property Steedman bought at Hurstbridge, north of Melbourne, young Pete , known as the Black Knght in Victorian political circles , was photographed there , above , on a rare HRD motorbike .
While sorting out his files, Steedman recently rediscovered this message from Williamson urging him to write a book.
No false modesty Pete. You were the real deal. Fearlessly kicking heads that needed to be kicked and exposing the barely hidden rottenness that lies beneath the conservative vision of all the spoils to the few.
Sure you got your head kicked too, but when you attack entrenched privilege and threaten their world view you cop it big time. And you did.
Why is it that nobody would say the things that had to be said. And why did you? Because you had mountains of anger at the injustice being swept under the carpet. Most of us know what’s going on but are too wary to stick our necks out. That anger is still with you and would fuel a great book.
Dictate it into a recorder, get it transcribed and edit it. That’s how Tom Keneally still does it. Then finally get a good editor to help you get it into shape. Call it simply STEEDMAN ; Rebel with a cause.
You made mistakes. Who doesn’t. Sometimes a bit image conscious, sometimes too theatrical. So what? You lived your life at full throttle and how many of us do that? Love to get together when I next come down, but it shouldn’t take me to prod you that you have a story to tell. Best . David W.
Another person who urged him to write the book was Phillip Adams , presenter of the ABC's Late Night Live, soon to retire.
In his case , Adams said he looked forward to the many entertaining defamation cases which would undoubtedly result from publication of the book. A possible illustration in that book could have been the early faded Michael Leunig cartoon , below, Steedman recently found while sorting out his files. It is headed The ultimate (election) promise , dealing with the Liberals .
From this cartoon alone it is easy to understand why Leunig was officially declared an Australian National Treasure .
UPCOMING: Giant Steedman missing link and sporran found in North Queensland ?
