Royal visit brings back memories

On a bright afternoon a few months ago the phone rang in my Brisbane home. It was Prime Minister John Howard and what he said to me brought memories flooding back of events almost 40 years earlier.
It was in late 1965 while I was working as a senior adviser on the staff of another Liberal Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies.
Sitting at home on one of my rare days off, the phone rang and woke me from my afternoon nap.
It was the PM. I immediately snapped to attention mentally - prepared to act immediately on whatever instructions he gave.
"Rufus," Menzies began, "I've got a job only you can do."
He went on to explain that His Royal Highness Prince Charles would be coming to Australia to attend Geelong Grammar's Timbertop School from the end of January to the beginning of August the following year.
"I want you to take charge of all arrangements Rufus," the PM continued, "and I also want you to go to Timbertop with him.
"I've given Her Majesty and His Royal Highness an assurance that he'll be well looked after while in Australia.
"That means I need someone I can trust to keep an eye on him, without getting in the way of course."
The PM spoke of various other matters relating to the Prince's stay before saying goodbye.
But he had one more thing to add before hanging up.
"Oh, by the way Rufus, I'll be quitting as PM in January," he said nonchalantly. "You'll know how to handle that one."
With that - and before I could say anything in reply - he hung up.
From experience I was well aware that telling me I knew "how to handle that one" was Sir Robert's way of saying that he'd told nobody else of his decision, with the exception of his wife Dame Pattie Menzies.
I immediately began making the necessary preparations for the Prince's visit, and for me to accompany him to Timbertop in the Victorian Highlands for the duration of his stay.
The following year, 1966, was an exciting one for our nation. Menzies did indeed retire in January, handing over the reins of power to Harold Holt.
Prince Charles arrived at the end of January and he and I spent several pleasant months together at Timbertop before he headed back to the UK.
In February of that year Australia switched to the decimal currency system and in November, the new PM Harold Holt led the government to a landslide win in federal elections. But, I digress.
I am writing this from the Tooloombilla cattle property near Injune in Central Western Queensland where I have been accompanying Prince Harry on his Australian stay.
He's a pleasant young chap. Much like his father in many ways, except for the chain smoking, and his unusual habit of saving those little plastic clips on the ends of the bags loaves of bread are sold in these days.
"Recycling, Rufus," is how he explained it to me.
And, although his artistic side is well known, Prince Harry appears to have developed a keen interest in entomology.
I discovered this when I asked what was in the small tin he always kept in his pocket.
"Roaches, Rufus," is what he told me. But, again, I digress.
When Prime Minister Howard rang on that bright afternoon a few months ago he told me his department had checked the files on the last such visit, that of Prince Harry's father in 1966.
Of course, my name was on the file and, my past service and skills being known to the current PM, he apparently didn't hesitate to involve me in making arrangements for the latest royal stay.
"Rufus," he said down the line from Canberra, "I've got a job only you can do."
He went on to explain that Prince Harry would be coming to Australia for a private visit to the cattle property owned by a friend of his father's.
"I want you to take charge of all arrangements Rufus," the PM continued, "and I also want you to go to Tooloombilla with him.
"I've given Her Majesty and His Royal Highness an assurance that he'll be well looked after while in Australia.
"That means I need someone I can trust to keep an eye on him, without getting in the way of course."
The PM spoke of various other matters relating to the Prince's stay before saying goodbye.
But he had one more thing to add before hanging up.
I can't tell you what it was, but he did say: "You'll know how to handle that one."

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.