politics
WHERE IS THE WOMAN MOST LIKELY?
Joan Kirner
David O'Reilly
Cheryl Kernot: The Woman Most Likely
Random House $29.95pb, 455pp
0 09 183738 3
WHEN ON OCTOBER 15, 1997, Gareth Evans rang to tell me that Cheryl Kernot was about to resign as Leader of the Democrats and
from the parliament to join the Labor party and run as a Labor
candidate for Dickson, I was over-joyed. I had admired Cheryl's
presence, principles and most of her practices for some years.
But I didn't really know her. I readily agreed to review David
O'Reilly's biography of Cheryl Kernot, The Woman Most Likely. I
wanted to know Cheryl better: where she had come from, where she
was going and why.
I enjoy reading biographies: my favourites include David
Marr on Patrick White; Hazel Rowley on Christina Stead; Brian
Matthews on Louisa Lawson. They have all opened up for me new
ways of seeing and knowing the people at centre stage, their
co-actors and their sets.
Unfortunately this biography isn't in that class. It is a
narrative rather than an analysis, a description rather than an
evocation of a life. If the true purpose of a biography is as
Thomas Carlyle suggests, 'to know our fellow creatures, to see into him, understand his going forth, decipher the whole heart of his mystery, nay not only to see into him, to view the world altogether as he views', then this biography rarely succeeds.
The closest the reader gets to Cheryl Kernot in David O'Reilly's biography is through the photos and the occasional personal story. The photos are strikingly similar to those of my childhood, even down to the blue hair ribbon, the sausage curls and pert pose. First they portray a loving (almost doting) hardworking family and a bright, determined and pretty child. Cheryl then appears as a teenager and then an adult. She comes across as calm, confident, and appealing. The open face, smiling eyes and the trademark tilt of the head engage and include the observer with warmth, interest, confidence and purpose. Here is, as Kim Beazley says, 'a woman you can feel comfortable with; a woman who will listen.' A woman who, as Hilary Clinton says, 'understands and talks politics in kitchen table terms.'
Just occasionally, despite the author's flat, uncritical journalistic style there are flashes of enlightenment about Cheryl Kernot, the person.
The first is when their Brisbane home, lovingly restored by her husband, Gavin, is destroyed in a fire lit by an old man whom they had helped. They had left the home in his care one long weekend. Cheryl and Gavin were naturally very angry with the old man who was charged and taken into custody. He died before Cheryl could visit him and say she forgave him. Cheryl was haunted by thoughts of the old man's last friendless days, until, as executor of his will, she went to clean out his flat. For Cheryl Kernot that experience really put it all into perspective.
That Cheryl Kernot was able to continue to care for the person who had burned down her and Gavin's lovingly restored dream home and their priceless family mementoes shows an amazing generosity of spirit, understanding of disadvantage and a refusal to blame the victim: rare qualities in today's political leadership.
The second story is that of her brother Craig's trial and ten years' imprisonment for physical and sexual assault. Cheryl visited Craig at every opportunity, but it wasn't until the 1996 election campaign (surprise, surprise) that the story broke. Cheryl had two choices, lie low and refuse to comment leaving the media to hassle her grieving and ageing parents: this was her minders' advice. Instead, in the middle of an election campaign, wearing dark glasses to cover her tears, she faced the issue clearly and publicly and spoke honestly and openly in terms everyone would understand in their hearts as well as their heads. She said,
I don't think any of us can imagine what it's like to be in prison. And to think you had also ruined your sister's political career was a burden Craig shouldn't have had to take on as well. That's why I wanted him to know that he was very important to me and that my family, and their pain, were very important to me.
This theme of balancing public life, personal space and family is a common one in political lives. The difference between Cheryl and many politicians is that Cheryl describes and faces publicly the challenge and the solutions. The public appreciate it. The press love it. Or they used to!
David O'Reilly is correct to suggest that as Cheryl Kernot makes the transition from Democrat Leader to a Leader in the Social Democrats, she would come under intense analysis and criticism partly because she is a star recruit; partly because Laurie Oakes hated not being the first to know, but mostly because she has moved from being a fellow commentator on the major parties, to being a key member of one of those parties. Now she is fair game. He had nothing...But he had this little case with lots of things in it all ordered...Among his papers was a letter addressed to Mary which said that he really loved her but didn't how to tell her. And then I found his Bible and inside the cover there was some writing that he had rubbed out...You could see he had written it himself 'To Alwyn.' which was his real name, and he had signed it himself 'love Mother. Christmas 1957.'...Gosh it was sad. A life...an entire life.
I think people will understand...that they will think that sometimes other people have problems of their own...I love my brother very much. He had a very tortured life, he's relied on me a great deal and I know he'll continue to rely on me when my parents are no longer here. I accept that responsibility and I will continue to support him in whatever way I can.