POLITICAL giant Kim Beazley recently re-entered WA public life after his return from his ambassadorship in Washington to back Opposition leader Mark McGowan.
But it was in his public tribute to retiring ABC broadcaster Eoin Cameron that Mr Beazley showed the warmth and intelligence we had come to miss.
“I come back from the States and one of the things that has attracted me back is the thought of turning on the radio in the morning and listening to your mellifluous tones, your complete indiscretion, your marvellous portrayal of your family relationships in which your wife is seen as secretary of the war office.
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READ NOW“And it will be a hole in Perth’s collective consciousness when you step away from the microphone.
“We want you to know as you go into retirement what joy you’ve given us, what profoundly useful information and opinion you’ve given us, what a wonderful humanitarian way you have your outlook. You’re a man who though he says sharp things from time to time, there are no sharp edges to yourself.”
“You are a product that is not churned out anymore.
“And that sort of fundamental decency goes into obsolescence with you.”
Welcome back, Bomber.
Justin Bianchini
– regional editor