Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Speech at Governor of Victoria’s Reception

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Government House, Melbourne, Australia
Source: Daily Telegraph , 16 September 1976
Journalist: Ann Morrow, Daily Telegraph , reporting
Editorial comments: Evening.
Importance ranking: Minor
Word count: 499
Themes: Foreign policy (Australia & NZ)

Mrs Thatcher's ‘good sense’ wins Australian praise

Mrs Thatcher's blend of femininity and good sense quite disarmed the Australian businessmen she addressed in Sydney and the politicians she met later in Melbourne yesterday.

Australian men are not particularly noted for their susceptibility to career women, especially those in politics, but yesterday all signs of male chauvinism vanished.

The Opposition leader was described in adulatory terms: “She is world class,” and “She is a very great lady.”

She met the businessmen at a lunch for 700 given by the Institute of Directors in the mirrored ballroom of the Went-worth Hotel in Sydney.

There was a loyal toast to the Queen; one Australian remarked wryly: “May she get out of all her troubles.”

Introducing Mrs Thatcher, Sir Robert Crichton-Brown told the businessmen that her predecessor, Mr Heath, had “thrashed the Australians in the Hobart race.” He was glad that Mrs Thatcher's hobby was hard work and not sailing.

Drought quip

Referring to the economy in Britain, and our drought problem, he said: “Even the umbrella has gone into liquidation.”

Keeping to the nautical theme, Mrs Thatcher was applauded when she referred to the economic rock. “Steady as she goes—and steady as she sinks,” she said.

She talked about the constraints under which democracy had to operate and about the economy.

She concluded: “We need good active leadership all the way through society … each one of us has his responsibility. Each one of us might well be guided by Harry Truman 's famous slogan ‘The buck stops here.’”

After lunch Mrs Thatcher left in a DC 9 for Melbourne.

In the evening, she visited Parliament House in Melbourne, an impressive pillared Victorian building.

Wearing a long glittery dress, she sat in the place of honour in the Assembly on the right hand side of the Clerk. Earlier in the day the House of Representatives had passed a special resolution to provide a seat for Mrs Thatcher.

She was amused as the exchanges got livelier during the debate; there was some desk thumping and the occasional “No way.” At difficult moments she smiled diplomatically at the gold leaf on the ceiling or occasionally caught her husband's eye.

There was a reception after it with the best of Australian oysters. Once again, in an impromptu speech, Mrs Thatcher charmed her audience of fairly rugged politicians.

Slightly carried away by the enthusiasm of the reception, Mrs Thatcher said: “We are having a lovely time. At any one moment in London there are 100,000 Australians. They are always welcome guests.” Fulsomely she added: “When ever they are in London, they must give me a ring and look me up.”

At the end of the day the only doubt about Mrs Thatcher's qualities was the one expressed by a Melbourne matron who said: “She is very pretty—too pretty to be tough enough.”

Today she will address the Women's Liberal Rally and go to the Melbourne Show.