The Burden of Proof

I have at least 3,000 digital photographs on my computer and perhaps another 600 hard copy photos at home. But I probably have less than 30 of myself. That’s what happens when you are a keen photographer – you take photos of other people. But what about when you don’t take photos at all, especially one that will back up a good story. You know, like "here's one of me and Mick Jagger on the Concorde to New York."

I had this same feeling when I was chatting with Greg over a beer. I was telling him about the time I met Gough Whitlam. Greg preten-ded to believe me but his eyes said otherwise. No photos.

Greg lived in London in the 70s for a time. He told told me that in fact he had met some interesting people. Like Dad's Army's John Le Mesurier. Greg said he drank beer with him at the Fox and Hounds in London. I pretended to believe Greg but my eyes probably said otherwise. No photos 

Kerrie,Greg's wife, chipped in. "I knew Darren Clarke the Australian Olympic runner. He would have had a drawer full of gold medals were it not for drug cheats." Kerrie said she met Wimbledon champion, the late Ken Rosewall. But no photos.

Now, I’m not a competitive person (much), but I can’t let a sleeping dog lie. So here’s my list.

Justin O’Byrne

Senator for Tasmania. President of the Senate during the 1975 constitutional crisis. I chauffeured he and his wife to the airport while working at the Australian Consulate-General in San Francisco. The C-G was also in the car. It was my first day on the job as a driver at the Australian Consulate-General in San Francisco. Nearly got sacked on my first day. Chauffers, apparently, are supposed to shut up and just drive.

Goldie Hawn 

She behind Rosemary and me in a rundown movie theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. 

The movie was A Clockwork Orange. While Malcolm McDowell and his Droogs were belting a man over the head with a bike chain while jauntily warbling "Singin' in the Rain,” Goldie laughed hysterically, just as she did on Laugh-In. 1972. 

Gough Whitlam

Met him at a reception in San Francisco. He was Leader of the Opposition and my idol at the time, a fact known to the newly arrived Consul (because I told him). The Consul introduced me. “So Mr Whitlam, how does it feel to be Australia’s next Prime Minister.” The Consul immediatly grasped my elbow and led me away. I received a formal reprimand. 

Bill McMahon 

Australia’s current Prime Minister at the time, I met him about a week after Gough. I drove he and the C-G to the airport. I shut my mouth this time. I’m a fast learner. 

Ronald Reagan

It was 8:30 on a chilly Sunday morning in Dublin. Cassius Clay (he was a year off becoming Mohamed Ali) was in Dublin training for his fight with Floyd Patterson. Rosemary and I saw paparazzi waiting outside a hotel. We joined them thinking we might catch a glimpse of the heavyweight champion of the world. But no, it was Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Ronald shook Rosemary’s hand. At the time, he was Governor of California. 

Ferdinand Marcos

1975. We were on holiday in Manila. The hotel next door to ours was hosting a large reception. We went in for a sticky-beak. Turned out Marcos was guest of honour. He entered the lobby, shaking as many hands as he could find, including mine. I took little notice. How would I know he would become famous for having a wife with a thousand pairs of shoes? 

Li Peng

He was the Premier of China. He landed at Avalon in a business jet before it became a public airport. Victorian Premier, John Cain, arrived to greet him and take him to Melbourne for meetings. I headed up the F/A18 program at the time and was asked could I join Mr Cain as a last-minute stand-in for someone else who didn’t show. Li Peng was wearing a brown suit with a yellow pin-stripe. I count it as the worst suit I’ve ever seen. Nine months later, Li was better known as the Butcher of Tiananmen Square.

I showed my list to Greg. he was unimpressed. No photos.