While I was recently in the US, Gough Whitlam died. I didn't know who he was. Since I'm not much of a news watcher, I might not have known he died. Since I was in the US, it's even less likely, since in comparison to Australia, the international news is practically non-existent.
But I happened to be in the US running a workshop with my boss, who grew up in Australia, and she knew Gough, and she knew he died. And this is what she, my PhD-educated, power-house-intellectual, changing-the-world-with-her-ideas-and-efforts, boss said, "I would have never been able to go to college without Gough. Free college education is the only way I could ever have done it."
His memorial service was today and the web is full of slices of why Gough mattered. Here are a couple from Cate Blanchett and from an Aboriginal elder, Noel Pearson. Both of them talked about being beneficiaries of Gough Whitlam's legacy.
It seems I, too, am a beneficiary of Gough Whitlam - here in Australia in a job that would not have been created if my boss had never gotten a university education. And so I found myself, a foreigner, who didn't even know about this man until two weeks ago, who was only a toddler when he was prime minister on this side of the planet, who didn't understand how to say his name (Gough=Goff in American English), grieving his loss. And better understanding the despair of my colleagues and friends as Gough's reforms are rolled back - increasing tuition and fees for university, and deregulation of tuition on the horizon; requirement of private health coverage in place of free care for all; borders shut to immigrants from Indonesia.
The world has lost a great man. But with the loss, perhaps a few more of us will be inspired by his life.
