511/2015 smh.com.

au - Tl'e Sydney Morning Herald

NEWS I JOBS I REAL ESTATE ICARS I FINANCE I MOBILE I DATING I TRAVEL I WEATHER
network map I member centre

www.smh.com.au

NEWS STORE Help Fairfax photo sales

I~ IQuick Search I Advanced Search I 18 Print Entire The best photography from
Browse Archives Page The Age and The Sydney
Morning Herald. more
photos
~e ~ydney Morning

Reconciliation requires an Aborigine Need Help?

for head of state Can't fmd what you are
looking for? Check out our
Search Tips for the best ways
Author: Ann McGrath - Professor Ann Publication:
to find Fairfax Articles.
McGrath is the director ofthe Australian Sydney
Centre for Indigenous History at the Morning
For back editions of
Australian National University. Herald
newspapers older than the
Date: 22/01/2008 Section:
previous two weeks, please
Words:754 News and
contact Paper World on 1800
Source: SMH Features
811 755 or visit
Page: 13
www.paperworld.com.au or
Until now, if your state library. In Sydney,
you wished back editions of The Sydney
to be Morning Herald, The Age
appointed to and The Australian Financial
the post of Review can be purchased at
govemor- Shop 15, Pavilion Plaza, 580
general, two George Street, Sydney, 2000,
of the phone: (02) 9261 8310.
essential
qualities Ifyou have a technical or
were that you account inquiry about News
were white Store, please click here
and male.
The first
appointment, CD ROM
of Lord Hopetoun, had its problems, not least because he was
criticised as pallid, sickly and bedecked with too many
plumes. When a youthful Prince Charles - possibly impressed
by his encounter with local bikini girls - thought he might fit
the bill, he was told to back off as Australians had their own
blokes for the job.

The Labor prime minister Ben Chitley caused a furore when

he appointed the first Australian-born governor-general - the
https1/digitalcollections.aru.edu.au/retrieve/6532Q/McGrath_2008_Reconciliation%20requires%20an%20Aborigine%20for%20l'ead%20of%20state.... 1/6
511/2015 smh.com.au - The Sydney Morning Herald

former boilermaker and Labor politician William McKell.

Chifley had reportedly wanted someone without "pomp and
plumes and social glitter". Robert Menzies called it
11
humiliating11 •

Fortunately we have been blessed with many good

appointments in the role of governor-general and more
exacting attributes make a good one. Major General Michael
Jeffery and Marlena Jeffery are a fine team who have restored
dignity to the post. Jeffery derives from humble origins but
has never lost the common touch~ the Jefferys are
conscientious in their preparatio~ and proud of what the
nation can and might be.

Julia Gillard's suggestion that ifs about time for a woman as

our next head of state is commendable. While many of us
await the republic, the post remains an important symbolic
and ceremonial position for our nation.

I suggest that, like Chifley, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd adopt

an innovative approach in choosing the next governor-
general. He should consider appointing an Aboriginal woman
to the position.

But first, some history. The best-known relationship between

Aboriginal people and a governor is that of Bennelong and
Governor Arthur Phillip - in the days when "Australia" was
occupied by Aboriginal people, and called New South Wales.
For his new venture to work, Phillip saw it as imperative to
conduct diplomacy with "the Australians". When they
avoided him, he kidnapped them - then wined and dined a
select few.

He and Bennelong ended up having a strong friendship - even

exchanging names - but Phillip had more trouble attracting
Barangaroo, his wife, to dine at his table. After several
invitations, she finally agreed. Then she requested to give
birth to her child there. Unfortunately, like many other Eora
people, she became fatally ill and both she and the child died.
It is a pity Barangaroo, a more powerful person in her own
community than Bennelong - was not permitted to reside at
Government House and perform a diplomatic role.

Some of our recent governors-general tried to do something

to draw attention to the plight of Aborigines. Sir Ninian
Stephe~ Sir William Deane and Michael Jeffery are among
them. Jeffery has been committed to improving the morale of
the much underemployed indigenous youth, as he did in his
earlier career with Norforce - the successful indigenous army
reserve unit.

As Governor-General he hosted a large gathering of the

descendants and indigenous leaders who campaigned for the
1967 referendum. Although those alive in 1967 were not even
considered full citiz.ens, in 2007 they felt so at home at
https://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au'retrieve/65320/McGrath_2008_Reconciliation%20requires%2Qan%20Aborigine%20for%20head%20ofO/o20state.... 216
511/2015 smh.com.au - The Sydney Morning Herald

Government House that they enjoyed plenty ofjokes and then

conducted an impromptu sing-along.

We have an opportunity to build on the work of those

governors-general who appreciated the significance of
Aboriginal people to the nation and its history. Without all
that Aborigines have done for and mean to this I~ we
would not be the nation we are. Although his term was cut
short by illness, Sir Douglas Nichols, himself a pioneering
activist during the 1967 referendum, was widely appreciated
as governor of South Australia.

We could appoint a governor-general who would again have

the humanity and vision to invite Aboriginal people to
Government House to honour what they have contributed to
the growing of this nation. But let us go further. Let us invite
an Aboriginal woman to take up the post so that she could
hand out the invitations, so that she could welcome the
dignitaries.

There's no trouble identifying a wide talent pool - for

example, the courteous and always well-prepared Larissa
Behrendt, a professor of law at the University of Technology,
Sydney; the sweepingly accomplished Dawn Casey, who
headed the National Museum of Australia; or the balanced
and patient Jackie Huggins, who co-chaired Reconciliation
Australia.

Most Australians agree the role of governor-general is

ceremonial and symbolic, so it is therefore all the more timely
and important that we consider an Aboriginal head of state.
This would signify a new kind of national inclusion - a new
shared pride in being Australian and of shared high
achievement.

Back to Search Results

•News
o Breaking News
o National
o World
o Opinion
o Biogs
0 Letters
o Strange but true
o Stay in Touch
o Column8
o Weather
https://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au'retrieve/65320/McGrath_2008_Reconciliation%20requires%2Qan%20Aborigine%20for%20head%20ofO/o20state.... 316
511/2015 smh.com.au - The Sydney Morning Herald

Special
o
Reports
o Obituaries
o Archives
o Home
• Entertainment
o Film
o TV &Radio
o Music
0 Arts
o Books
o Good Living
o What'sOn
o Biogs
o Cuisine
o City Guides
o Entertainment »
• Life & Style
o People
o Fashion
o Parenting
o Health
o Diet
o Relationships
o Beauty
o House & Home
o Pets
o Bridal
o Cuisine
o Gifts
o Life & Style »
• Business
o Market Data
o Money
o Portfolio
o Quotes
o Small Business
o Innovations
o Executive Style
o Business »
• Sport
o LeagueHQ
o Rugby Heaven
o AFL Real Footy
0 Golf
o Football
o A-League
o Tennis
o Cricket
o Basketball
o Motorsport
o Horse Racing
o Swimming
o Biogs
https://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au'retrieve/65320/McGrath_2008_Reconciliation%20requires%2Qan%20Aborigine%20for%20head%20ofO/o20state.... 416
511/2015 smh.com.au - The Sydney Morning Herald

o Sport»
• Travel
o Australia
o World
o Activities & Interests
o Short Breaks
o Deals & Bookings
o Travel»
• Tech
o Gadgets
o Games
o @Home
o BizTech
o Security
o Connectivity
o TechTips
o Tech»
• Other Sections
o The Sun-Herald
o Education
0 Radar
o Employment
o Property
o Motoring
Video
o
Earth Watch
o
Photo Galleries
o
Crosswords
o
SMHShop
o
ContactUs
o
SiteMap
o
• Classifieds
o PlaceanAd
o Adonline
o Announcements
o Notices
o Other Classifieds
o Advertise with Us
o Classifieds »
• Jobs
o FindaJob
o PlaceanAd
o My(Meer f;J
• Cars
o Cars For Sale
o Sell Your Car
o News and Reviews
o Bikes and Scooters
o Sell Your Bike
0 Drtve
• Real Estate
o Buy Property
o Sell Property
o Rent Property
https://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au'retrieve/65320/McGrath_2008_Reconciliation%20requires%2Qan%20Aborigine%20for%20head%20ofO/o20state.... 516
511/2015 smh.com.au - The Sydney Morning Herald

o Share Property
o Property Data
o New Developments
o Commercial Property
o Holiday Rentals
o Businesses for Sale
o PlaceanAd
o Domain newspaper
o Dor:-r::lain
•RSVP
o FindaDate
o Browse for a Date
o Top 100
o RSVP.com.au

Home INational I World IOpinion I Business I Technology I Sport I Entertainment

CLASSIFIEDS Jobs I Real Estate ICars I Dating I Accommodation I Place a classified ad

Sitemap I Subscribe I Privacy I Contact Us I Conditions I Member Agreement I

Copyright e 2008. The Sydney Morning Herald. FairfaxDi~

https://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au'retrieve/65320/McGrath_2008_Reconciliation%20requires%2Qan%20Aborigine%20for%20head%20ofO/o20state.... 616