Women’s news

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33092, 6 December 1972, Page 7

Women’s news

flag is a British blue ensign —but that with the Southern Cross tacked on it is just not good enough.” As might be expected both leaders’ statements about a new national anthem have been the stuff that keeps cartoonists and leader writers happy. Mr Whitlam, too, has been making merry at Mr McMahon’s expense. One of his election-meeting jokes about the two-anthem policy has been to ask “where is the music coming from?” echoing that “where is the money coming from?” query that has been tossed around in the wake of election promises to increase pensions and spending on education, health, transport and so on. But, while it has suddenly become topical, this question of an anthem has been pretty regularly aired over the past year or two, largely as a result of the efforts of Mr Lavett and his committee. I seem to remember that Mr Gorton had some ideas on the subject when he was Prime Minister. Now other people are taking sides, with “Advance Australia Fair" and “Waltzing Matilda” most probably the front-runners. “Matilda” seems to have some following among musicians who find it evocative at home and nostalgic overseas. But it is generally agreed that the words—billabongs and jumbucks and swagmen—won’t do.

RIBALD VERSIONS ' That could confuse things a bit. We could end up with two anthems. Or we could end up with one anthem and two lyrics. But having heard some of the ribald variations that schoolchildren can, and do, tack on to “God Save the Queen” that might not be so bad after all.

Footnote:—Mr Lavett spent four years in New Zealand as an insurance executive travelling in both North and South Islands. Mrs Lavett worked for the Red Cross while she was there and for the Wellington Hospital. ,r We liked it there,” says Mr Lavett. “Those four years were very happy.” Today he works with Aid Retarded Persons in Sydney “helping to care for 700 mentally handicapped youngsters."