Labor honours pioneer leader: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Michael Bachelard, John Stapleton. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 27 Apr 2004: 1.
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Abstract
As [Chris Watson]’s political descendants — including Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating — gather in Melbourne to celebrate the world’s first national labour government, Jacqueline Dunn, 77, will remember her father and hope Mark Latham follows in his footsteps.
Paul Keating will launch historian Ross McMullin’s book So Monstrous a Travesty, while Bob Hawke will unveil a plaque in the Treasury building where theWatson government was sworn in. Gough Whitlam will also attend and Mr Latham will address the ALP federal caucus inside Victoria’s Parliament House, which served until 1927 as the national seat of government.
The co-organiser of the celebrations, senator John Faulkner, said Watson’s government helped set up Australia’s century-long political battle between Labor and non-Labor.
Full Text
HIS daughter remembers Chris Watson — Australia’s youngest prime minister and the world’s first leader of a Labor government — as “lovely … a most wonderful man, a beautiful father”.
But 100 years ago today, the ascension of the 37-year-old Watson to the national leadership was, according to the media, a “political freak”, “ridiculous”, “laughable”, and a “greater disaster than half a dozen droughts”.
As Watson’s political descendants — including Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating — gather in Melbourne to celebrate the world’s first national labour government, Jacqueline Dunn, 77, will remember her father and hope Mark Latham follows in his footsteps.
“He is a breath of fresh air,” she says of the present Labor leader. “I love him. I think he’s gorgeous.”
It was a tempestuous time in 1904, and Watson’s rise was short- lived. After steering Labor through 111 turbulent
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days in office, the former stablehand and printing compositor quit over a point of principle involving industrial relations.
But for Labor, the foundations had been laid.
Ms Dunn — who was born long after her father’s political career ended —
remembers a cheerful home life with her ageing father and his second wife.
“I was thoroughly spoilt. He was very widely respected,” she said.
Ms Dunn grew up in what is now one of the ritzier parts of Sydney, Double Bay, but says it was more like a village when she was young.
“Now it’s full of would-bes if they could-bes.”
She says although her “doting dad” did not have a large number of friends, those he had were very loyal, including Billy Hughes.
While Hughes, a former Labor prime minister who ratted on his party, is not remembered as fondly, his old mate Watson will be lauded today.
Paul Keating will launch historian Ross McMullin’s book So Monstrous a Travesty, while Bob Hawke will unveil a plaque in the Treasury building where theWatson government was sworn in. Gough Whitlam will also attend and Mr Latham will address the ALP federal caucus inside Victoria’s Parliament House, which served until 1927 as the national seat of government.
The co-organiser of the celebrations, senator John Faulkner, said Watson’s government helped set up Australia’s century-long political battle between Labor and non-Labor.
“These things are worth celebrating,” Senator Faulkner said.
“Our conservative opponents would love to be able to have had their party formed 113 years ago. They can eat their hearts out as far as I’m concerned.”
Ms Dunn couldn’t agree more. When asked for her views of John Howard, she replied: “Don’t ask me, and don’t print it.”
The birth of Labor —
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