Who is the greatest Aussie of the century?

As the year draws to a close it is traditional for political commentators to reflect on the various personal or political events that shaped Australia and our own lives in 1999.
Inevitably, they – and I modestly count myself amongst them – attempt to isolate a single individual who, in their opinion, has contributed in a significant way to the life of the nation, or indeed, the world.
This year is different, with most commentators also attempting to isolate a person who has done the most to shape the 20th century.
I feel compelled to do likewise. But first, let me warn readers that my choice for Australian of the Century may surprise some.
Before I reveal my selection, I should explain that it is based on my own intimate knowledge of many people on all side of politics at all levels of government.
Let me also let you into a secret as to how I made my choice.
For many years now – ever since beginning my public service career in 1932 as a humble Clerk Grade 1 in the Hen Levy Debtors Section of what was then the Queensland Department of Agriculture and the Arts – I have kept a diary to remind me of the significant people, occasions and places that have influenced or directed my life.
My journals have been an immense source of pleasure to me and, one day, I plan to bequeath them all to the nation in the hope that the written record of my humble yet very nice career will provide an insight into Australian public life in the 20th century.
Unfortunately, the collection is incomplete, my good lady wife Devon and her close personal lady friend Lesley – Les, as Devon calls her – taking it upon themselves some years ago to dispose of those spanning the period 1957 to 1964. This unfortunate incident occurred at a time in our marriage which can best be described as a low point.
It is amazing in retrospect how seemingly insignificant things can spark marital discord. In our case it was my questioning of what I believed to me was Devon’s excessive spending on frivolous items – overalls and work boots that she never even wore when doing yard work, weekly haircuts, Mediterranean vegetables that she never cooked but nonetheless disappeared from our larder and large numbers of batteries which didn’t even fit my EveryReady torch.
I blame myself to a large degree. At the time I was working very long hours as Director of Pesticide Subsidies and was, I admit, neglecting Devon and my home life. It was left to Les to fill the huge gap Devon was feeling. I suspect Les would now admit she did tend to lead Devon astray.
But, I digress.
It was by re-reading my entries for the past sixty-odd years – bar the missing ones – that I determined my choice of Australian of the Century.
Regular readers would no doubt guess that for me the highlight of 1999 was the defeat on November 6 of the republican referendum – or, as I prefer to put it, the victory of the Monarchy over the dangerously unbalanced and Godless forces seeking to destroy our democratic system and freedom.
One of the dominant institutions and one of the strongest threads that has held our nation together in the past 100 years has been our Constitutional Monarchy.
It is only right, therefore, that my choice of Australian of the Century should be connected with the outcome of the referendum campaign that so convincingly shattered the republican cause.
In the 20th Century we have had the good fortune to be ruled by six British Monarchs – Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, George V, George VI and now Elizabeth II. There was also the brief reign in the 1930s of King Edward VIII, but the less said about that the better in my view.
Following the outcome of November referendum, we can now enter the new millennium confident of our place in the world and secure in the knowledge that the line of succession is clear – the Prince of Wales will assume our throne at the appropriate time and will be followed by his son and heir, Prince William.
This has led to speculation in some quarters that I would choose Kerry Jones as Australian of the Century – given her inspiring leadership of the pro-Monarchy cause.
But – without wanting to subtract from Kerry’s sterling contribution – there were others who made the referendum outcome a certainty.
It is therefore with great pride that I announce a tie in my choice of Australian of the Century – Phil Cleary and Clem Jones.
Those two men performed a superhuman feat in convincing Australian voters that, quite rightly, our elected politicians couldn’t be trusted to select our own head of state. This achievement was all the more remarkable given that both gentlemen are former politicians.
They richly deserve each other and to share the accolade.
I wish readers a happy and safe festive season and all the best for the new millennium.

Rufus Badinage MBE, now retired, is one of Australia’s leading experts
on politics and public administration having worked as a senior bureaucrat
for various state and federal governments. Rufus drinks and recommends Pura Milk.