A Square

On Sunday a middle-aged fella in Surry Hills boarded the cab and ordered, "Whitlam Square, please." Gees, I thought, there’s a blast from the past, Gough bloody Whitlam. These days I rarely hear of the windy, bottom of Oxford Street being called Whitlam Square. Was my passenger keeping the dream alive ?

After giving it some thought I said, "Whitlam Square needs a prominent memorial to remind us of Gough, a huge statue like Saddam had in Baghdad." Quick as a flash the passenger retorted, "So, when the Americans invade they can tear it down ?" Keeping the paranoia alive, eh.

We got to discussing how Whitlam’s statue could be enhanced with a defining object. For example, a statue of Bob Hawke would undoubtedly be raising a glass of foaming beer. A Keating statue could be holding...a nineteenth century French clock. But what item is synonymous with Whitlam, I wondered. Instantly he replied, "A book."

Of course, a statue honouring that great man of letters would naturally cradle a book. But which book would it be...Frank Hardy’s, Power without Glory ? Suggestions welcome...

Further reading : Commemorating Australia's Prime Ministers - locations, buildings, monuments, organisations and events that bear the names of Australian Prime Ministers. Except for Billy McMahon and Malcolm Fraser who have nothing yet dedicated to them. Paul Keating has recently scraped onto the list with a park, whilst Howard is yet to score. Suggestions for Howard monuments etc, also welcome...

Comments

[rightminded]

Whitlam should be seated on a throne smashing a map of Australia over his knee.

[rightminded]

Keating should be sitting in a coffe shop sipping a latte with a banana split waiting to be eaten while admiring the label on his designer suit.

[rightminded]

Bob Hawke should be shown talking to his publicist while his business manager is stuffing million $ cheques in his pockets from overseas "deals" with Hazel and Blanche catfighting in the background.

[Ben]

Howard should be standing over a bunch of chain-ganged workers, cracking the IR whip.

[gandhi]

I think Whitlam should be standing on a set of stairs, teeth clenched, with his right hand outstretched, and the dismembered head of Sir John Kerr clenched tightly in his fist.

These former PMs are actually great value for money and have some wonderful things to say these days, particularly Malcolm Fraser.

I can't see The Rodent ever achieving similar stature, although I'm sure he would love to have a statue. What would that look like? Maybe down on his knees, squirming with delight, as Uncle Sam buggers him from behind?

[Anthony]

The statue of Fraser is a given. No trousers. Nothing defines the man better than that episode.

[Tom H]

Whitlam holding a book? Only two choices:
"The Idiots Guide to Screwing Up An Economy" or "Australia's Worst Prime Ministers".

Actually I find Whitlam to be a useful litmus test. Anyone who claims him as "a great man/PM" instantly reveals themselves to be a irredeemable dickhead. OK, those under 40 might just be ignorant, but they're probably ignorant dickheads, so the test still works.

[Mark]

Ignoring the idiots, did you catch the Curtain docu-drama on the ABC Sunday? Very good stuff.

[Darlene]

Power Without Glory is probably more suited to an old commo than an old Labor man. There are differences contrary the opinions of some dorks on the interweb.

Keating! (sometimes called Keating! The Musical) is quite a monument to the former PM. It's politics was incredibly one-sided, but it's a great show.

[Wokka]

Gough and his followers have been re-writing his history for the last 30 years. Therefore, we need a memorial that reflects these constant re-drafts and revisions? A Whiteboard?

What a money spinner. You could return in a year or two or twenty and the experience would be (somewhat) different.

We need a side-room for the Whitlam's to perform. Finally, they would have somewhere to regularly play.

[Wokka]

How about anyone can add/delete from the whiteboard? Maybe, we need something like a wikipedia whiteboard.

Oops, you'd need to register. No Libs/Nats/One Nation/Republicans/Conservatives/left of centre political members/sympathisers allowed.

[adrian]

Fraser with no trousers is a classic suggestion.

Keating! The Musical...It's politics was incredibly one-sided.

The yartz one-sided ? Never.

I think Whitlam should be standing on a set of stairs, teeth clenched, with his right hand outstretched, and the dismembered head of Sir John Kerr clenched tightly in his fist.

Except history records the exact opposite event.

Nah, missed the Curtin doco, though I hear he muscled up to some imperialist invaders from the North.

Forgot to mention the Al Grassby stature in Canberra. Anyone know how it's faring..?

[Anthony]

The Al Grassby statue? The pigeons are lining up...