Warrigal
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Robert J Hawke, known to all as Bob Hawke, died yesterday aged 89 and his passing has taken all attention away from the general election that is to take place tomorrow.
Bob Hawke was one of our most successful political leaders ever and his legacy lasts because his reforms and innovations have taken root in modern Australia.
This link outlines his impact both as a politician and a trade union leader. His style was one of conciliation and consensus building.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-16/bob-hawke-legacy-nine-things-he-got-done-in-office/6514794
Bob came into parliament from the position of President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and assumed the position of Leader of the opposition on the same day that an election was called in 1983 and the government of conservative Malcolm Fraser was toppled in a landslide. He went on to win three more terms and in that time he made many seemingly radical reforms that opened up Australia's economy and modernised trade.
Why the headline Larrikin to Legend? Bob Hawke was a leader like no other that Australia had ever known. He was highly educated and exceptionally intelligent but he was an everyman of the people with the same virtues and vices. He loved beer, women, sport and gambling. He is in the Guinness book of records for the fastest sculling of a yard of beer when a Rhodes scholar at Oxford. Hawke was an alcoholic and gave up drinking to become Prime Minister, abstaining until he left parliament. He did not suffer impertinent questions from journalists and let them know what he thought of them On camera. He wept openly when he learned that his daughter and son in law were addicted to heroin and again when the tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square. Immediately he signed a paper to allow 40,000 Chinese students and others on temporary visas permanent residency in Australia.
He famously stayed up all night to watch Australia win the Admiral's Cup yacht race in 1984 where he declared that “Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up to work today is a bum.” His exuberance was very intoxicating and he was held in great affection by many, but not all. He could get away with a good deal, including calling one elderly man who had a go at him in the street a "silly old bugger" into an open mike.
Bob loved the Australian people and we loved him back. His many flaws are long ago forgiven and forgotten and it is no wonder that today the current crop of politicians are being compared with him and for the most part found to be wanting.
Vale Bob Hawke and rest now in peace.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-16/bob-hawke-obituary-labor-party-23rd-prime-minister/11095968
Bob Hawke was one of our most successful political leaders ever and his legacy lasts because his reforms and innovations have taken root in modern Australia.
This link outlines his impact both as a politician and a trade union leader. His style was one of conciliation and consensus building.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-16/bob-hawke-legacy-nine-things-he-got-done-in-office/6514794
Bob came into parliament from the position of President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and assumed the position of Leader of the opposition on the same day that an election was called in 1983 and the government of conservative Malcolm Fraser was toppled in a landslide. He went on to win three more terms and in that time he made many seemingly radical reforms that opened up Australia's economy and modernised trade.
Why the headline Larrikin to Legend? Bob Hawke was a leader like no other that Australia had ever known. He was highly educated and exceptionally intelligent but he was an everyman of the people with the same virtues and vices. He loved beer, women, sport and gambling. He is in the Guinness book of records for the fastest sculling of a yard of beer when a Rhodes scholar at Oxford. Hawke was an alcoholic and gave up drinking to become Prime Minister, abstaining until he left parliament. He did not suffer impertinent questions from journalists and let them know what he thought of them On camera. He wept openly when he learned that his daughter and son in law were addicted to heroin and again when the tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square. Immediately he signed a paper to allow 40,000 Chinese students and others on temporary visas permanent residency in Australia.
He famously stayed up all night to watch Australia win the Admiral's Cup yacht race in 1984 where he declared that “Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up to work today is a bum.” His exuberance was very intoxicating and he was held in great affection by many, but not all. He could get away with a good deal, including calling one elderly man who had a go at him in the street a "silly old bugger" into an open mike.
Bob loved the Australian people and we loved him back. His many flaws are long ago forgiven and forgotten and it is no wonder that today the current crop of politicians are being compared with him and for the most part found to be wanting.
Vale Bob Hawke and rest now in peace.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-16/bob-hawke-obituary-labor-party-23rd-prime-minister/11095968