Guest speaker, PM Malcolm Turnbull at the ARM 25th Anniversary Dinner held in the Great Hall of the University of Sydney, looks hot as well as exhausted. Wearing a blue tie, he distances himself from todays republic(an) movement as fast as he can go. “You,” he said to the well-heeled crowd in front of him, “have a lot of work to do” and he meant developing enough grassroots support to persuade his government that they should move on the Republic. More stalling tactics really. Best speech of the night was made by the Deputy ARM chair, Michelle Wood, who spoke plainly and put it to the PM that he had to support the movement and stay in the game for the longhaul. The efforts of two women were highlights of the event: Michelle as mentioned while life membership was bestowed on Allison Henry, long time ARM worker, campaigner and National Director 2003-2006. The latter was a very well deserved award.
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
