He will be missed.

A man who truly tried to make life better for everyone, especially the most deprived, and never afraid to take on a cause, however challenging. He also had a formidable intellect and could toss off Latin quotes without a second's hesitation, to the great delight of the few in parliament who could understand them - most notably the Conservative, Jim Killen. Their verbal stoushes were legendary, yet they were great friends outside the Chamber. There was never anything small-minded or mean-spirited about him.

I shed a tear for him this morning - there is nobody in politics currently who could ever hope to fill his shoes.

Vale, Gough. You were, and are, a legend.

Just that right there made Gough a hero of mine.

Gough sat right in the WH next to the Dick and said Australia is not a satellite of any country.

Good on 'ya, Gough.

He'll be missed by many, I'm sure.

far exceeds anything ever achieved by any other PM.

But there is one thing that came to my mind straight away this morning, and that is that he taught us to be proud to be Australian.

That would seem strange to Americans, who are weaned on patriotism, but the norm for Australia before Gough was to automatically fall into line behind Britain on every issue. To his credit, Robert Menzies saw the importance of the American alliance, but he oositively grovelled before the Queen. Australian children, up to early baby boomers like me, were taught to be proud to be children of the British Empire. Nobody ever told us to be proud of being Australian.

I well recall, when Gough first uttered those memorable words, "Men and Women of Australia", I jumped up in the loungeroom and cheered. I wasn't sure why, but suddenly he had hit the right note, and I felt proud.

My first passport had the words "British Citizen" on the front. My second had just "Australian Passport". It meant so much.

Well Done

Many faces that would be familiar to Aussie baby-boomers, but it's part of the legacy now.

Malcolm's tribute clearly came from the heart. He almost lost it at the end, but managed to finish.
As many have said before, he's probably in the wrong party – no Labor MP spoke quite so eloquently.

For people other than Aussies - think how Democrats feel about Kennedy, or Republicans about Reagan; for the Brits, think about how people felt about Churchill. That's how people on the left feel about Gough in Australia.

RIP. He was a truly great person and I'm proud to have met him....

Little song about a man called Gough
And a little boy who wanted to be tarred with the same brush
He learnt Latin, held his head up high and he hated the
Liberals tho' he didn't know why

There were reasons - how long have you got?
There are always reasons - how long have you got?

The little boy he's on the stage tonight, his name is Anthony Hayes and he's doing alright
They both went to the same local Canberra school, but Stevie was nine in 1972

What a party - a big day for both of us
A big reason to party - a big day for both of us

Come over have dinner with me, we'll play chess and drink claret
Walk slowly down my little street, you can bring Margaret

November 11 was Armistice Day
A bushranger was slaughtered and Gough was betrayed
November 11 - he wouldn't survive the Governor General in '75

November 11 - a big day for all of us
I said November 11 - Ned Kelly died
Shame Fraser shame and we all cried
For you Gough you Gough you Gough
Edward Gough Whitlam
You Gough you Gough you Gough
Edward Gough Whitlam

Days of wine and roses, days of wine and roses
All the artists flew in and all the arseholes flew out in '72
For you Gough you Gough you Gough
Edward Gough Whitlam