Dear Quentin: Letters of a Governor-General

By Quentin Bryce

As Australia's first female Governor-General, Quentin Bryce handwrote more than fifty letters each week. She wrote to those she had met and connected with as her role took her from palaces to outback schools, from war zones to memorials, from intimate audiences to lavish ceremonies. She received even more letters from every corner of the country. Generous, witty and always heartfelt, her letter-writing skills were honed at boarding school, from where she would write to her parents every Sunday.

Dear Quentin is a rich collection of the letters the Governor-General wrote and received during her six-year term to prime ministers Rudd and Gillard, VC Mark Donaldson, pals Anne Summers and Wendy McCarthy, Indigenous elders, war vets, Girl Guides, grandchildren, as well as the proud owner of a calf called Quentin.

Royalties from this book will be donated to Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, making a real difference to child health through world-leading research and disease prevention.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melbourne University Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Apr 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9780522871173

Quentin Bryce

Her Excellency, The Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, was sworn in as Australia’s 25th Governor-General on 5 September 2008. Her illustrious career includes roles such as Director of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Queensland (1987-1988); Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner (1988-1993); founding Chair and CEO, National Childcare Accreditation Council (1993-1996); Principal and CEO of The Women's College.

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2008

2008

Undated 2008

From Diane Craddock

My eldest sister, Diane, has always been the perfect model of the eldest girl in a family, a second mother, taking charge, organising, sticking up for me in trouble. She taught me how to plait my hair, how to ride a horse, how to put on red lipstick. She had a marvellous career in nursing, so has the confidence and competence – the capacity to deal with anything – that I envy in nurses. My sisters and I are a close-knit lot. We report on each other to each other every week. We must have written hundreds and hundreds of letters. The best are from Helene, the youngest, a librarian who has lived in London most of her life and has read ‘everything’. Diane has given me wise advice on most important occasions in my life, when she takes her responsibility as the matriarch seriously. She is sparing in her praise, so when it is given, it is highly valued. On the morning of my swearing in, before I left Yarralumla for Parliament House, we had a quiet word in the drawing room. She put her hands on my shoulders, looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘Never forget who you are and where you come from.’ The next day she sent me this note.

Dear Quent

It has been an extraordinary time. I hope you are breathing normally and cognisant of the fact of just how extraordinary your life has become and so will continue.

As I said to you at Yarralumla this will change you, but always remember who you are in yourself and where you came from.

You will have tough times, keep your nerve, get good advice from those you trust, persevere and be optimistic.

I am so proud of you and so pleased that I have been present along with Susannah and my sisters to support you. I just have to imagine if Norman and Naida were about!

Hope you sleep well tonight.

With love from Diane.

8 September 2008

To Anne Summers

I met Anne in the 1970s when she was writing her thesis, which became the famous book Damned Whores and God’s Police. I was on the National Women’s Advisory Council and was immersed, in both my public and private life, in all the things that Anne was trying to change and improve: women teetering on a tightrope balancing work and little children, law reform in juvenile justice, the emerging children’s rights movement – the whole catastrophe of those times that came with trying to do it all at the same time. Anne’s landmark publication had a powerful effect on me and on many women. Still in print thirty-two years after it was first published, it is a classic. When I was running the Women’s Information Service Queensland, she became Head of the Office of the Status of Women and my boss. She came to Brisbane to stay with my family, who were quite mesmerised by her intellectual capacity, flamboyance and sheer presence. In her New York days, we corresponded. She wrote marvellous letters on Tiffany & Co. stationery, and when I visited, she took me to swank restaurants and the hottest plays. Whatever we have been doing in our professional lives, we have always stayed in touch. It’s been a thirty-year-long conversation, constantly enriched by new references and insights.

To my dear Anne,

My first letter on my new letterhead to thank you for the very special gift on the occasion of my swearing in. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. I have read the first few pages and I know that I will enjoy it immensely. I was very taken by the observation that the family who arrived in Australia in the 1820s were English and that by 1907 they were Australian. I reflected on that notion recently when we were in Scotland in the little village of Strachan in Aberdeenshire where my father’s family came from at much the same time and how quickly they too became Australians. My dad was born in the last week of 1899 and by 1915 was a lifesaver at Austinmer! What wonderful stories of immigration we share across our country. I have read a biography of Maie Casey which I must dig out again and learn more about her.

I want you to know how much I appreciated your presence on Friday.

Again – thank you for your inspiration and generous spirit. It would be lovely to see more of you and Chip.

As ever,

Q

24 September 2008

From Norman and Muriel Grills

I received many letters after my interview with Kerry O’Brien on the 7.30 Report. This one tickled me. Mr Grills and I subsequently became regular correspondents. In November 2011, we went to meet Norman and Muriel on their beautiful farm; fat, white sheep tucking into lush, green grass. The homestead set in magnificent trees, gorgeous garden and fern house made a perfect picture. I will never forget the long driveway edged with yellow roses in bloom. Little Grills grandsons in linen shorts and shirts in gleeful spirits waving Australian flags in welcome. Michael and I sat around the kitchen table for afternoon tea: grandparents, great grandma, five families with their little ones, a babe in arms. We talked about everything all afternoon.

Afternoon tea with Mr Grills and his family, Bradworthy, November 2011

Dear Madam – Governor General,

I am a farmer who loves farming, but rather old, of your vintage – 38er.

Last night I sat with my wife to watch a little of Kerry O’Brien interview yourself and then quickly switch to a rundown on the American campaign of McCain and Palin, due at the same time. I think the remark I made to my wife was that I did not think you would be our sort of person, with which she agreed, but we would have a quick look anyway.

To sum it up we were still watching when your interview finished, and McCain–Palin were forgotten about.

When you talked of women’s rights I thought of my mother, a city girl, educated, coming onto this farm, raising a family in the 30’s in hard times, in a man’s world when women had little say – too little.

Then you talked of the stolen generation, at which we both became uneasy at that word for I thought the intention (now with hindsight misguided) was to lift them up and help them.

Certainly the aboriginal leader I befriended in the 60’s while building them a cattle yard north of Darwin, could not of had the influence he had, if he had not been a member of the stolen generation.

But Governor General we accepted all the points you made and Muriel and I were uplifted by your directness, and to-the-point answers. Must be your country upbringing. The questions on the Republic, the Rubber stamping! of Bills etc. your answers were all so interesting.

With your law background and active public life you still remain feminine, charming, and if I might say so attractive.

And when you talk with pride and emotion of our Australian Defence Force and the farewelling of our troops on overseas missions, I felt my heart miss a beat as my wife did too.

I think I mumbled well she’s won me over, and I heard Muriel say, me too.

All the best in your role Governor General Quentin Bryce, and there are two farmers who will listen with interest when you speak.

Kind Regards,

NORMAN AND MURIEL GRILLS

PS Our son Matthew leaves for Afghan – next year as OC of a helicopter squad, he is 33, and another son Andrew 35, after service in Timor and other places is no longer in intelligence, but taken training to be a chaplain, Army, to the troops he served with. He may also go within a year or two.

13 October 2008

To Mr Grills

Dear Mr Grills,

I want you to know how much I appreciated and enjoyed your lovely letter. You have such an engaging style of writing if I may say so, the words sound so conversational as I read them reminding me of Mark Twain who had much to say about the art of conversation.

I have been thinking about it while I have been visiting the Murray Darling Basin – country people are such good talkers and listeners – and letter writers!

Thank you for telling me about your sons. You must feel very proud of them. I will have them in my thoughts and I hope I meet them one day.

Sharing your thoughts with me as you have means more to me than you might know.

I send you and Mrs Grills my warmest best wishes for good health and good weather.

QUENTIN BRYCE

17 October 2008

From Norman and Muriel Grills

Dear Madam Governor General,

These few lines are just to let you know your reply was received with indeed, quite a bit of pleasure.

In your busy role, that you should take time to write is really