THE HEROES.(Poem)

 
   Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser ... have 
   become a pair of free-wheeling radicals, unafraid to 
   speak out on whatever topic they choose. How 
   delightful it is to see them ... How lucky we are to 
   witness two former prime ministers, both 
   intellectually alert to the issues of the day, both still 
   wanting to contribute ... both have continued to 
   stride the national and the international stage ... 
   we should be using Gough and Malcolm as role 
   models ... they will not be belittled by those who 
   wish to shame them for their age, etc. etc. 
   --Susan Mitchell, Australian, 18th December 2000 
 
   Britain has drug-sodden rock-singers, 
   and shit-brained, sewer-mouthed soccer stars, 
   but The Lucky Country has this pair to lead 
   the drum-roll of our heroes, our exemplars: 
 
   America has had Kennedys and Clintons, 
   exemplary sexual predators and liars, 
   but we have Pantaloon and Nincompoop 
   to point to as our own high-flyers: 
 
   to instruct us and inspire our young 
   to lift their game or to maintain their rage. 
   Thus we have Nincompoop and Pantaloon 
   postponing ...