Recently overheard snatches of an excited man telling his attractive female partner about a book he’d been reading. In the rackety rack I heard the title Windsor’s Way and picked up the words Werris Creek.
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“Werris Creek”! That’s where I grew up. Many great memories of the Creek; one that stands out: six years old, first class, public school, “playtime”, the headmaster crosses the playground: “go to my office”.
Puzzled, slightly chuffed I find my way there, he comes, ushers me inside: “put out your hand.” Is he going to give me a note, a lolly? No. He gives me one sharp cut with a cane. To this day I have no idea what it was for but I still hate Mr Porter though he did help make Werris Creek unforgettable.
Googling Windsor’s Way I found that the Windsor was Tony. I didn’t know, he came from the Creek; within minutes I had my own Kindle copy and was soon in the company of a most extraordinary, ordinary man.
We know Tony Windsor as the independent state member for Tamworth from 1991 to 2001; but most recently and importantly as the independent federal member for New England from 2001 to 2013, particularly the last three years where, along with Rob Oakshot, he kept the Gillard Labor Government in power.
His very readable memoir sketches his entry and parliamentary career focusing largely the years of the Gillard Government. From the outset you know you are in the company of a wise and decent man who thinks things through and always sees himself as in the service of his electors and nation.
He lists the most important six elements of that three years as the National Broadband Network; National Disability Insurance Scheme; Murray-Darling Basin Plan; climate change and renewable energy reforms; Gonski education reforms; Royal Commission on Child Abuse and laments that more could have been achieved if the Opposition had been more interested in the nation and less in themselves and throwing stones.
Generosity and humour dot the book: “a three-sided tennis court just isn’t cricket”; Greg Combet “herding the cats in a dog pound”, but it’s a serious, often critical but genial account from a man who is finally optimistic: “Eventually the politicians follow the direction of the people and democracy does work.” – Fred Goldsworthy