As a café owner, it’s not often that you hear a knock on the door just before midnight, after you have closed for the night, and upon opening the door you find the Prime Minister of Australia standing there begging to be fed and complaining of the cold. Continue reading “Niagara Cafe: “Food for Prime Ministers””
Sir Robert Menzies Goes For a Walk
The Australian Capital Territory Government has, of late, taken the view that the citizenry of Canberra needs more art and culture. This has, to a large degree, manifested itself in a plethora of new statutory most of which is lacking in any sort of taste, art or culture or whatsoever. The shot-gun approach however does mean that a least a few of the new statues will hit the mark. The subject of this review, Sir Robert Menzies’ statue, is one of those which certainly hits the mark for me. Continue reading “Sir Robert Menzies Goes For a Walk”
Curtin and Chifley – On Their Way to Work
This sculpture, commissioned in 2011 and located behind Old Parliament House, about 200 metres from the National Archives building in Parkes, recreates – at the same location and with an amazing likeness – a 1945 photo (below) of John Curtin, Australia’s fourteenth Prime Minister (1941-45), and Treasurer Joseph Benedict (Ben) Chifley, who shortly thereafter became Australia’s sixteenth Prime Minister (1945-49). Curtin actually died in office in 1945 and was replaced by Francis Forde who held office for eight days (Australia’s shortest serving Prime Minister) before handing over to the new Labor leader, Chifley.
Continue reading “Curtin and Chifley – On Their Way to Work”
The Rambling Wombat 