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He bought the heady outside world into our house —James Button's eulogy for his father John Button, State Memorial Service, Melbourne, April 2008

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Author James Button's 2008 eulogy for his politician father John Button was one of the first speeches ever added to Speakola. It's a beautiful speech, full of stories about one of Australia's most significant Labor politicians. It's also a eulogy that has an honesty to it, it talks about John Button's moodiness, his taciturn nature, his absences. But it also demonstrates his intelligence, wit and charisma. There's a sadness in Senator Button's past that James didn't bring up in the eulogy, which he now regrets, as he discusses in the interview. it's a brilliant speech and episode.

James Button's books include Speechless  A Year in My Father's Business and Comeback: the Fall and Rise of Geelong.

Tony's footy books include 1989 The Great Grand Final.

Subscribe to Tony Wilson's 'Good one, Wilson' substack, to receive a weekly taste of his writing. An email a week, with stories like this one about his son.

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