Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS writer
Tony woke with a jolt and found himself sitting upright. It was as if an electric bolt had sparked him to life. He was wired. A delicious feeling filled his being. That momentary feeling you get when you first wake up and know something good has happened or is about to happen but you haven’t remembered it yet.
Then it came to him. He’d had an idea! His idea, not Peta Credlin’s, not Joe Hockey’s but his. This may be the thing that would revive his popularity. This was it. Maybe now John Howard would look at him with renewed respect. It was the kind of decision that Menzies would have made.
Things had not gone to plan last year. All those barnacles sticking to his captain’s vessel. It really wasn’t his fault. But now, this was his chance to showcase to the nation his true values, his intellect, his impeccable judgement, the vision that so often had been clouded or misrepresented by the press.
The feeling of excitement and impending success built as Tony began planning his announcement. There was no need to bother the Cabinet with this decision, no need for them to share the credit. This would be his moment.
As he dragged on his Speedos, ready for his morning laps, he dreamed of the look of admiration on the faces of Australians nationwide as he announced the deserving recipient of the Knight of the Order of Australia …
His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich, Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Grand Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Order of Merit, Companion of the Order of Australia, Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand, Extra Companion of the Queen’s Service Order, Royal Chief of the Order of Logohu, Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada, Extraordinary Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Canadian Forces Decoration, Lord of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, Privy Councillor of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty, Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom.