Making light of the trip fantastic

A lot of nonsense has been written about the recent visit to Britain by Prime Minister Howard and several of his predecessors.
Typically, the papers have focussed solely on the costs involved.
While I am not certain of the exact amount, I am sure every last cent will be worth it.
From what I read and from what I heard on the television and wireless, everything went very well.
The Australian delegation – including former PMs Bob Hawke, Malcolm Fraser, Gough Whitlam, and Sir John Gorton – seemed to be kept busy attending a lot of events, the importance and purpose of which were obscured in the usual biased reporting of such visits by our less than generous local media outlets.
It was good to see such a line-up of former national leaders all in one place, although I cannot say I did not feel saddened when contemplating some of those missing, namely the late Sir Robert Menzies and Harold Holt.
Both would have enjoyed it all, although everybody seemed to be staying at Claridge’s when Menzies always insisted on The Savoy.
Before he departed, I tried to ring the Prime Minister to see if he was open to a suggestion for his visit.
I wanted him to make sure he mentioned “absent friends” in any or all of the no doubt numerous toasts he was required to make.
I’m sure Menzies and Holt still have a special place in the heart of all Britons.
Although I could not speak to the Prime Minister personally before he left, the young lass who answered the phone at Kirribilli House assured me she would pass on my suggestion.
But, I digress.
We should not be ashamed to spend a few dollars to celebrate our magnificent British heritage.
I well remember many decades ago - shortly after my good lady wife, Devon, and I were married - I would often sit in our lounge room fingering an atlas and marvelling at the sheer number of nations then still under the British flag.
I even sparked Devon’s interest once when she asked me what book I had and what I was doing.
She became very excited, albeit for a short time, when I replied: “Looking at the pink bits.”
Bit, I digress again.
Next year our nation marks 100 years as a federated democracy. That’s no small achievement when you consider how others have fared.
You don’t even have to look too far afield to see countries much older than ours that have been torn apart by uncertainty and instability.
Only a few hours away from us by plane, Fiji is still trying to sort itself out, after yet another coup.
Just as recently we saw the invasion of farms in Rhodesia (I have refused for more than 20 years to call it by its newer name).
Even now, supposedly after addressing its dark past, South Africa is still mired with political, economic and social problems.
Even our closest neighbour, Papua New Guinea, has not been immune
Thank goodness we developed and gained self-government under the British.
That’s one thing worth celebrating, no matter what the cost.

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.