Tributes to a true legend pour in
I admired Sir Joh immensely for his ability to reject conventional
wisdom in promotions within the public service - ie: the next
in line and those showing most merit should always get the nod
- and replace it with a system rewarding emerging and exceptional
talent wherever he found it. That, and his absolute abhorrence
of brown-nosers.
Terry Lewis
Brisbane
Even though Sir Joh wasn't a Catholic, immediately on hearing
the news I contacted the Vatican to suggest that there would be
no better way for the ailing John Paul II to mark his wonderful
popeship then by conferring on the former Queensland Premier a
long-overdue sainthood.
L Shaw
Brisbane
When Sir Joh was in charge, he won election after election
- for almost 20 years. For the life of me, I don't know why the
National Party hasn't enjoyed more time in office since he left
the scene.
Gerry Mander (Retired)
Wujal Wujal
As a young and fairly ambitious principal of a state school in
the South Burnett in the late 1960s, I decided to run for the
Australian Labor Party against the Premier in his seat of Barambah,
and may I just say that Sir Joh taught me some basic lessons in
politics that have stayed with me all my life.
Alan Simpson
Teacher's Aide
Mornington Island (Outer)
It's a pity Sir Joh has now gone and not the namby pamby Liberals
in the joint-party room who kicked up such a fuss and prevented
me from establishing my cancer clinic in Queensland. If they'd
listened to Sir Joh, I'd still be alive today.
Dr Milan Brych
Plot 3427
Cook Islands Cemetery
Quite frankly I'm glad the silly old bugger is no longer with
us. With all the revelations from the Fitzgerald Inquiry and his
subsequent court case, he gave all knighthood holders who really
earned their gongs a bad name.
Sir John Egerton
Niche 4536
Allambe Memorial Gardens
Gold Coast