24 March 2009

John Gorton to be commemorated at last

| Aubergine
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While browsing ACTPLA (sad, I know) I found this intriguing development application. It is for a temporary cyclepath through the grassland between Cotter Rd and Dixon Drive, routing cyclists off Cotter Rd while they build the new Molonglo arterial road. Due to start in October, the road shows up on the plans as “John Gorton Drive”.

Here’s the link – check out the site plan.

So, no suburb called “Gorton” it would seem. (Too similar to “Gordon” maybe.)

[ED – John Gorton was a former fighter pilot and 19th Prime Minister of Australia for the Liberals. He was a man of such principle that he voted himself out of office rather than survive in power on the strength of his own vote. Gorton then devoted his twilight years campaigning against the lunacy of drug prohibition, pretty much a lone voice at his level. Despised by the political classes he probably deserves more celebration by we peons.]

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It is for a temporary cyclepath through the grassland between Cotter Rd and Dixon Drive, routing cyclists off Cotter Rd while they build the new Molonglo arterial road. Due to start in October, the road shows up on the plans as “John Gorton Drive”.

There is already a track through there that is heavily trafficked by pedestrians and cyclists. And they just built a new bloody cycle lane along Cotter Rd to Stromlo Settlement!?!?!?

As a PP mentioned, John Gorton is already commemorated via the former Administrative Building now occupied by Finance and Environment.

jakez: At that rate you’ll have the whole country converted in 12 hours!

wishuwell said :

John Gorton was a parliamentarian from a era now unfortunately long forgotten. Men and women from all sides of politics who had lived through a depression and a world war (some of them 2) and understood what it was like to go without and set about addressing imbalance. Seems that being liberal sorta feel out of fashion with the Liberal Party.

I didn’t know we lived in the US…

John Gorton was a parliamentarian from a era now unfortunately long forgotten. Men and women from all sides of politics who had lived through a depression and a world war (some of them 2) and understood what it was like to go without and set about addressing imbalance. Seems that being liberal sorta feel out of fashion with the Liberal Party.

I saw Gort some years ago, standing outside a stall at the Fyshwick Markets, having a noisy and lively fight with the owner. Jolly John Gort was pretty worked up about something.

As for Hewie, I thought he was the anti-christ when he was trying to become PM, but lately he’s been well worth listening too, and rather funny too. He lost that election when filmed walking on the beach in socks…

PM said :

jakez said :

John Hewson may have rehabilitated John Gorton, but who will rehabilitate John Hewson?

I seem to be the only one I know in the Liberals that still likes him so I guess I’ll have to do it.

Make that 2

Awesome, the rehabilitation is working already. The levels of support have doubled in only 30 minutes. 😉

jakez said :

John Hewson may have rehabilitated John Gorton, but who will rehabilitate John Hewson?

I seem to be the only one I know in the Liberals that still likes him so I guess I’ll have to do it.

Make that 2

John Hewson may have rehabilitated John Gorton, but who will rehabilitate John Hewson?

I seem to be the only one I know in the Liberals that still likes him so I guess I’ll have to do it.

Dunno about Gorton being despised by the political class for about the last two decades now.

John Hewson rehabilitated him within the Libs, throwing an eightieth birthday party for him. Gorton attended a major Howard function in Sydney in the 1996 campaign.

His AG Tom Hughes sings his praises whenever he gets a chance and Tom is still at the bar and has a well-connected daugher in Lucy Turnbull.

There is the John Gorton building of course….a truly lovely old building it is too (over the road from the National Gallery).

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