PRIME MINISTER
EMBARGOED AGAINST DELIVERY CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
PRIME MINISTER'S RESPONSE TO THE MAYORAL WELCOME
AT THE CITY OF BATHURST,
21 SEPTEMBER 1985
Mr Mayor, Distinguished Guests, my colleague, David
Simmons, M-ember for Calare, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I thank you for your welcoming comments Mr Mayor. I am
most pleased to be here in Australia's oldest inland
city ( founded in 1815) for the celebrations of the Ben
Chifley Centenary. It is indeed a great day.
Ben Chifley needs no introduction to you. He was a
great Prime Minister. He was a great Prime Minister
who loved this country, and his roots lie here in
Bathurst a town which he loved, admired and worked
for during his career in private and public office.
It is with deep pride I am able to say that the warm
welcome I have received today as a Labor Prime Minister
stems from the memories that many of your townsfolk
have of Ben Chifley, particularly when he was Prime
Minister. Ben Chifley, as you all know, was a great Australian
Prime Minister. He lived for politics. He was a deep,
empirical and reflective man who understood the
significance of leading Australia at a time of crisis
in our country.
Ben Chifley, was first and last a Bathurst man and felt
himself to be a citizen of no mean city. His father
was born here before him and he himself knew no home
outside the Bathurst district. " No Chifley," he used
to say, " ever left Bathurst, except feet first."
Though he died in Canberra he was flown home for burial
amongst him family and townsfolk.
2.
Bathurst was the lifelong background of his career, as
it was the constant focus of his heart. He would often
say, " I was a child of the pavements, a boy from the
bush." He was interested in your history, refreshed by
its beauty amongst the rolling plains and proud and
solicitous of your civic progress. He would also be
proud today to know that a nephew, John Chifley, is a
member of your local council.
In closing" may I say how wonderful it is to be away
from Canberra andtremendous to be hear in Bathurst. I
only wish I could . make these sorts of trips on more and
more occasions. Thank you for your hospitality and I
congratulate you Shn your organisation for this
celebration. I wish you and your great city well today
and into the future.