She said sorry and tried again. Once more she faltered. She handed the piece of paper to a clearly surprised Peris, who got her across the line. Betty says well done Australia, and congratulations. It was a display of great dignity and graciousness by both women, one that lifted the roll-call of achievers above something that at times resembled prizewinners at a school speech night.
Any list selected by a committee is bound to cause debate.
Rather, it symbolises and represents all those Australians who have contributed to the building of this free and independent nation. Also recognised were the film industry and Australia's multicultural society. Fashion designer Jenny Kee described herself as an Australian of Chinese, Italian and Anglo-Saxon heritage. The choice of presenters was often as interesting as those whose achievements they recognised. Another ex-PM, Bob Hawke, returned to his old territory of industrial relations to speak about Muriel Heagney, the feminist and trade unionist whose lifelong campaign was securing equal pay for working women.