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Vale John Button ...

By Fiona Reynolds
Created 08/04/2008 - 10:44

The news has just come through: John Button has died. There will be many eulogies. Mine is brief – there are few politicians for whom I have unqualified admiration. John Button was one of them.

Meanwhile, here is an extract from Alan Ramsey’s column in last Saturday’s SMH [1]:

Ten years ago I wrote about John Button. I've been doing that for more than 30 years, 21 of them in this space. The computer tells me my Herald tally exceeds 40 Button articles. An edited version of the August 1998 piece says why. He lit up political journalism in the same way he illuminated political life. To quote: "This story has nothing to do with anything really, except good-humoured normalcy, and when political life is so despairing and national leadership, here and overseas, so awash with squalid conduct and buffoonery, normalcy is welcome wherever found. I discovered it in John Button's memoir, As It Happened, a book as seamlessly good-humoured as it is a light in the window of the Australia that was.

"He got out in 1993, three years before Labor's defeat. The concluding chapter of his memoir is entitled 'The Road To Geelong'. Button often drives it, down from Melbourne, to see his beloved Geelong football team, and he uses the journey as a metaphor for much of his life and what is happening to Australia. He concludes: 'In politics and football there are small triumphs and sometimes big prizes. It's the same in most people's lives. You have to persevere, to take sides and, win or lose, accept the consequences. I keep the faith my team will make it, and Australia, too. It may take time.' "

Both took nine years. Button saw Geelong win its first grand final in 44 years last September 29, then Rudd Labor swept into power on November 24. But in between Button learnt he had pancreatic cancer. The five months since have been diabolical.

On Tuesday this week, Button's partner, Joan Grant, emailed a group of us: "Dear Friends, we brought John home today. He hated the hospital routine, although we all agree the care and help of all kinds was wonderful. We are aiming to keep him here as long as we can, with the assistance of daily visits from nurses. He sat out in the sun this afternoon. His sister Muriel's partner Frank has constructed a stunning wooden ramp (for the walker or wheelchair) from the courtyard to the cottage, where John will sleep, as the bedrooms in the house are up too many stairs. We hope he can have enough peace and love to keep him going for a long time. Thank you, all who have sent such beautiful, heartfelt and encouraging messages. Joan".

The best prime minister we never had.

 

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