Making a meal of life: a great man remembered

As Senator Colston's media manager for some years, your request for anecdotal evidence about this amazing politician brought the memories flooding back. Even today, I only have to close my eyes and the many hours the good Senator and I spent on the road travelling to places not serviced by airlines with a frequent flier program seem like yesterday. I can still hear the soft swish of the air-conditioning in the late-model COMcar limousine and, through the thick glassed windows, the gentle hum of the exhaust system scraping on the bitumen.

In those days, most of Senator Colston used to sit in the front with the COMcar driver and from the back seat, I'd have these heated discussions with him on day-to-day tactics and long-term strategies. Every town we drove through, I'd plead with him to stop at the local for a couple of well-earned drinks, while Senator Colston would argue forcibly that we should stop instead at various road houses so he could snack away at and stock up on lollies, cakes and other light refreshments. He always won out. To this day, I still believe if he had accepted my proposal for a quick pot or ten at each rubbidy we passed and not succumbed to his penchant for quick snacks and fast food, he wouldn't be in the condition he is today.

- Max Jessop

I think what the ALP did to Mal Colston was an absolute disgrace!

- Sir Jack Egerton, Ever-rest Memorial Gardens, Surfers Paradise.

The Bug also sought a comment from the office of Victorian Right-wing Senator Robert Ray. His media adviser told us that Senator Ray was far too emotional to speak with us, having just received an update on Senator Colston's condition. The adviser did however release a draft copy of the condolence speech Senator Ray was busy preparing for when the Queensland Senator did finally pass away. The Bug has blacked out certain parts of the speech on legal advice.