It was an afternoon of spring rains, and spring lamb for 17 gentlemen who rotated their respective calendars to grant themselves permission to attend the Tasmanian Club.
Julian Joscelyne kindly agreed to allow us to attend his club as guests for this, the 10th year celebration of having beaten the GFC, and the 67th year anniversary of the establishment of the M 26 7 Movement.
With this fine record of rebellion, survival and betterment, we each wondered 'what next'. And so it was that Leigh Sealy SC rose to his feet and startled us with the news that Australia is now a Federation, and the extra-ordinary decision making which came to create that situation, was made in this very room off Macquarie Street.
From the crocodiles of the media, we were blessed with the presence of media magnate Roger Hanson, who patched in his brother via satellite, to recall and review the take over maneuvers of his Font Media Group.
Image: Merv Simmons gives the speaker 'the clap'. Roger Hanson invites the waitress to replenish their glasses.
The long table in the Red Room was the scene. The gentlemen were surprised how elegant they presented themselves, and what a fine table could be prepared when they didn't do it themselves
From left (not necessarily in this order or position): Hugh Griffiths, Alan Haig, Mike Ryan (grapeologist), Steve Porter, Dickie McCure (obscured), Julian, Max Reed, Merv Simmons, Roger Hanson (media contingent, Herr Reich Marshall Kimber, Roger Kimber, Phil Kimber, Leigh Sealy, Peter Bowen, Miles Flanagan (ocean going sea trout), Rob FayMarcus Taylor RD.
It was also a celebration of the new acquisition of this Ben Quilty portrait. Enigmatic, mercurial, expensive.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Quilty
Rising to his feet, Magnate Hanson disposed of the US Election then spoke to the UK and European Union dilemna, finalising his discourse on the rise and fall of fake facts
Julian, Max, Merv and Roger, absorbed in Leigh Sealy's articulate expose of the Constitutional Debates of 1893 "in this very room, or one quite like it"
Alan, Stephen, Mike, Dickie, Julian, and Max -'clear the table Forbes, we are moving into the reds'. At 5pm Julian asked the Forbes, as the numbers began to thin (if not their girth) "how many bottles should we have to finish off" - to which came the clanking of "I can only carry six"
MJ Kimber avoiding the plague, held his face shut all afternoon so that any escaping covids, new or old, were made to abstain from his system
Merv, with the pox doctor's tie, ensured it didn't tangle in the soup
Alan, Stephen and Michael
Dickie attending Julian, and Max - both describing the fine features of their club, the welcoming Tasmanian community, and embellishing the Peter Bowen advice that the enjoyment coming from at least doing no harm.
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