A Thinking Reed"From Quiz Kid to Australian Minister for Science, from frustrated school teacher to National President of the ALP, from the suburbs of Melbourne to UNESCO in Paris, Barry Jones has had a prodigious public life. Barry Jones first came to public prominence as a Pick-a-Box quiz champion. Since then he has embraced a myrid of passions and causes. A Thinking Reed spans his remarkable life from a lonely childhood in Melbourne of the 1930s and 1940s to the fight he led against the death penalty and his crusade to make science and the future prominent issues on the political agenda. He has worked tirelessly on both a global and local scale to rethink education, to improve and preserve our heritage, to revive the nation's film industry and to build a better Australia. Almost unique among politicians, Barry Jones is held in enormous public affection. And while he reveals many insights into the political process - the problems of office and the atrophy of Opposition - he concentrates above all on the life of the mind; a mind with deep, passionate and witty insights into history, philosophy, music and literature. A Thinking Reed is a generous gift from an extraordinary Australian."--Backcover. |
From inside the book
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Page 5
... complex . As Science Minister I was conscious of eyes glazing over in the Cabinet Room as I attempted to interest my colleagues in biotechnology , radio astronomy , Halley's Comet , genetic engineering , global warming 5 OVERTURE.
... complex . As Science Minister I was conscious of eyes glazing over in the Cabinet Room as I attempted to interest my colleagues in biotechnology , radio astronomy , Halley's Comet , genetic engineering , global warming 5 OVERTURE.
Page 13
... interest in ornithology . In 1910 Alec , Ruth and daughters returned to Victoria , then Alec deserted . Divorce was uncommon in that period and it took some time to find Alec and serve the papers , but the decree was granted in 1915 ...
... interest in ornithology . In 1910 Alec , Ruth and daughters returned to Victoria , then Alec deserted . Divorce was uncommon in that period and it took some time to find Alec and serve the papers , but the decree was granted in 1915 ...
Page 19
... interest in serious music , or literature or religion . Ire , an office worker , married David Stanley Walker , ten years her senior and a returned soldier from World War I. They had tried growing tobacco , unsuccessfully , at Pomonal ...
... interest in serious music , or literature or religion . Ire , an office worker , married David Stanley Walker , ten years her senior and a returned soldier from World War I. They had tried growing tobacco , unsuccessfully , at Pomonal ...
Page 43
... interest . My fluency had been assisted by exposure to Magnet , an English boys ' weekly published between 1908 and 1940 by Amalgamated Press , which recounted the stories of Billy Bunter , Harry Wharton , Bob Cherry , Mr Quelch and ...
... interest . My fluency had been assisted by exposure to Magnet , an English boys ' weekly published between 1908 and 1940 by Amalgamated Press , which recounted the stories of Billy Bunter , Harry Wharton , Bob Cherry , Mr Quelch and ...
Page 50
... interests , took lessons from Nana Black on her occasional visits to Melbourne , and they devoted much time to practice . At my urging , Mum joined the Ontario Street Methodist Church , where I attended Sunday School . When the organist ...
... interests , took lessons from Nana Black on her occasional visits to Melbourne , and they devoted much time to practice . At my urging , Mum joined the Ontario Street Methodist Church , where I attended Sunday School . When the organist ...
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Common terms and phrases
American argued Arthur asked attack Australian Barry Jones Beazley became Bill Bill Hayden Bob Dyer Bob Hawke Cabinet campaign Canberra Catholic Caucus cent chair Chifley Church Clyde Holding commitment Committee Communist Conference Council death penalty debate deeply defeated democratic economic election Evatt Executive factional Federal film Fraser Geelong Gorton Gough Whitlam Government hanging Hawke's Hayden Henry Bolte House of Representatives industry intellectual interest issues Jesus Jim Cairns John Gorton John Howard Keating Knowledge Nation Koestler Labor Party Lalor later Leader Liberal lived major Malcolm Fraser Melbourne Menzies Nana never organised Parliament Peter Phillip Adams Pick-a-Box political Premier President Prime Minister quiz radio recognised role Science seat Senate Sleepers social South Wales speech Sydney television thought United University Victorian vote wrote
Popular passages
Page 131 - Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.
Page 530 - Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.
Page 76 - What's that so black agin the sun?' said Files-onParade. 'It's Danny fightin' 'ard for life,' the Colour-Sergeant said. 'What's that that whimpers over'ead?' said Files-onParade. 'It's Danny's soul that's passin' now,
Page 527 - So first of all let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.
Page 329 - I must study politics and war, that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.
Page 275 - Tell all the Truth but tell it slant— Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight The Truth's superb surprise As Lightning to the Children eased With explanation kind The Truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind...
Page 154 - God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen: Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us: God save the Queen.
Page 528 - I'll never know, in the silence you don't know, you must go on, I can't go on, I'll go on" (Three Novels by Samuel Beckett [New York: Grove Press, 1955], p.
Page 530 - The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. Surely some revelation is at hand; Surely the Second Coming is at hand. The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert A shape with lion body and the head of a man, A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun, Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds. The darkness drops again; but now I know...
Page 155 - Thy choicest gifts in store On her be pleased to pour; Long may she reign: May she defend our laws, And ever give us cause To sing with heart and voice God save the Queen.