'Thirteen days ago my Dad’s big, beautiful, generous heart suddenly stopped beating'
'Thirteen days ago my Dad’s big, beautiful, generous heart suddenly stopped beating'
Michael Gordon was a legendary Australian political journalist who died 5 years ago today at the age of just 62. There were many wonderful tributes. The eulogy from his daughter Sarah makes me cry.
Michael Gordon died doing one of his favourite activities — ocean swimming. He was competing in a swim at Phillip Island and suffered a heart attack in the water. It’s some small consolation to know that the heart attack was so severe he wouldn’t have survived on land either.
Michael spent his working life in the Canberra press gallery and in that peculiar zoo of sharks, snakes and jackals, he stood out as a kind and decent human being and as an outstanding journalist.
He was loved in our family. He ran regularly with Dad, every Sunday morning. When I was trying to get pieces in the The Age in 1998 after Race Around the World, Michael put them in front of features and opinion editors. He landed me my start. He was also the Hawthorn footy club’s unofficial historian, and I as I’ve trodden a similar path myself, I’ve only felt more connected to him. I dedicated 1989: The Great Grand Final to Dad and Micky.
Michael Gordon’s memorial day at the MCG on 15 February 2018 is the most memorable set of speeches I’ve ever experienced live. Australian music legend Paul Kelly played. Former Prime Minister Paul Keating spoke and called Michael Gordon ‘a defining column in the cathedral of Australian journalism and opinion’. We heard from speechwriter Don Watson, asylum seeker Ali Mullaie, writer Martin Flanagan, friend Simon Baulderstone and Simon’s son Fergus Hunter, and siblings Sally and Johnny Gordon. Every one of these speeches was outstanding and I’ve put them all on Speakola. (thanks to The Age and Tom McKendrick)
But the one who broke me on the day was Michael daughter, Sarah. It must be so difficult for immediate family to speak in tragic circumstances, and Scott and Sarah Gordon were just brilliant.
What particularly affected me about Sarah’s speech, what got the tears flowing on the day, was its honesty, Sarah’s attempt to address the shock and sadness. It’s really short, and often in these newsletters I commend speeches for their mastery of anecdote and story. This speech doesn’t have so much of that. It shares a few of Micky’s favourite sayings. It shares his love and positivity. But mainly it’s just a daughter grappling with a father’s death, grappling with grief. It still makes me cry.
15 February 2018, MCG. Melbourne, Australia
13 days ago my Dad’s big, beautiful, generous heart suddenly stopped beating. And we didn’t see it coming.
So many times over the past two weeks, as I’ve howled, hurt or hoped, I’ve wanted to call Dad. He would be able to help.
He was the Dad that was always there for me, my thinker, my friend and my protector.
He was the Dad who always told me, “Don’t worry. It’s all good. Have I ever let you down?”
The word mentor has been used so much over the past two weeks to describe Dad, and I feel so very blessed as he didn’t just mentor me in a professional sense, he mentored me in life.
Perhaps that is why I’ve found it so hard to come up with the right words today. Dad was our narrator and now I’m lost for words. He was the person that provided me with so many.
He taught me so much and I hope I can pass on these special qualities and values to his grandson, Harry, who he loved so dearly.
Dad, I could be sad, that I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye or get one final trademark “Micky” hug.
Dad, I could be sad, that I didn’t get the chance to say how proud I am of you and how much I love you.
I could be sad, that I didn’t get the chance to thank you for everything you have done for me and our family.
But you wouldn’t want that.
Just two days before Dad’s big, beautiful generous heart stopped beating, he came to our place for dinner. He stood outside with a beer in hand. We were listening to Jimmy’s latest playlist and admiring our new deck, as the sun went down. He had Harry in his arms and a big grin on his face. He was happy. Oh so happy…
Dad, I didn’t get the chance to tell you that night, so I’m telling you now.
We are going to be okay. We are going to be okay because you showed us the way. We are going to be okay because you have given us the gifts that are more precious than anything in this world.
Whenever we were heading off to a big event, you would calmly say: “Feel Good, Feel Strong”.
Dad, I’ll try my very best. I love you.
Michael Gordon was in a swimming group with former Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu. Mr Baillieu was a guest on the Speakola podcast last year and talked about ‘doing a Gordo’ (an underwater lap) still being a thing the swimmers muck about with. His episode is here.
Mr Baillieu also contributes to Speakola via patreon. Becoming a $5 a month member there or upgrading to paid here on Substack keeps us going.
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