John Stapleton
RELAXED, happy and engaged, this was a Bob Carr we had not seen for a very long time.
Returning to his old alma mater, Matraville Soldiers Settlement Public School in Sydney’s south yesterday, the soon-to-be former Premier of NSW beamed at reporters, shook hands with teachers and appeared genuinely interested in what students had to say.
Returning to his old alma mater, Matraville Soldiers Settlement Public School in Sydney’s south yesterday, the soon-to-be former Premier of NSW beamed at reporters, shook hands with teachers and appeared genuinely interested in what students had to say.
It was a long way from the stressed, imperious Carr that used to sweep into press conferences, make his announcements from on high, pick two of easiest pushovers he could see in the press pack, answer their questions and be gone. Or the Carr who, opening this, that or the other, used to bullet straight from his chauffer driven car into the arms of his waiting advisers, bureaucrats and press officers; and look decidely awkward if any normal voter got within cooee of him.
“He’s just not interested, is he?” people would mutter in his wake; and the media would often agree.
Yesterday he got leisurely out of his car and smiled genially at the waiting television crews, the school principal and the school captains. “It is great to be back,” he said expansively; proceeding to reminisce about his three years at the school beginning in 1957.
Yesterday he got leisurely out of his car and smiled genially at the waiting television crews, the school principal and the school captains. “It is great to be back,” he said expansively; proceeding to reminisce about his three years at the school beginning in 1957.
“You are kidding!” Carr exclaimed when told by 8-year-old Jarrod Longbottom, that he had read 17 books this year as part of the Premier’s Reading Challenge. “That is fantastic. I am very impressed.”
When told that some kids had read 20 books, some even more, the Premier exclaimed: “This is unbelievable. I am going to strike a special award for this school. When I was this age I can’t remember books being in the school. This is really exceptional.”
What was different this time was not only his great good cheer, but that he actually seemed to mean what he was saying.
As his visit wound up, he held the umpteenth press conference of his career. He denied, unconvincingly, that he was any more jovial than usual; or that he felt any sense of relief. Then he turned to a small group of students and commented that it must be very interesting for them to watch people from radio stations, newspapers and television channels. “Their job is to cut that up and distort it to make me look ridiculous,” he said, continuing to beam at everyone with, as his favourite Abraham Lincoln once said, “malice for none”.
As his visit wound up, he held the umpteenth press conference of his career. He denied, unconvincingly, that he was any more jovial than usual; or that he felt any sense of relief. Then he turned to a small group of students and commented that it must be very interesting for them to watch people from radio stations, newspapers and television channels. “Their job is to cut that up and distort it to make me look ridiculous,” he said, continuing to beam at everyone with, as his favourite Abraham Lincoln once said, “malice for none”.