We have had some doozies of Governors General in Australia.
If you don’t know the position, it’s the symbolic head of state, and I think the only other place left with this archaic position is Canada which still has a Gouverneur General, or actually a Gouverneure Generale, Her Excellency Michaelle Jean.
But as I said, we have had some pathetic jerks in this exalted spot. Like Sir John Kerr (aka John Cur), a man fond of a drink or three, who dismissed the Labor government of Gough Whitlam on 11 November 1975, creating the most significant constitutional crisis in our history.
Then there was Archbishop Peter Hollingworth who failed to act against a retired bishop who sexually interfered with a 14-year-old girl because he didn’t want to reduce the offending bishop’s capacity to earn money.
These men did much to inflame public opinion against our involvement with the British Crown.
But yesterday we overcame the past. No more mongrels as Governor General!
Instead we have the remarkable Quentin Bryce, prominent lawyer, academic and womens’ activist. Her appointment ends 107 years of male dominated tradition.
Congratulations to Bryce, Australia’s first female governor-general.
And about bloody time we got one worthy of respect!
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April 13th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Yes it is good to have a female at last, but best if there was no need for a governor general. Australia also has its first female bishop too don’t we?
April 14th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Indeed, we have the Venerable Kay Goldsworthy, now the assistant bishop for the Anglican Diocese of Perth. Goldsworthy was one of the first women ordained in Australia.