Dad wrote well, with colour and humour, and his enjoyment of writing comes through. When he sat down early this century to reflect on memories from the previous one, he took pleasure from the challenge and acknowledged that it was very much his own telling, warts and all.

He made a gift at Christmas time to each of his children, in 2004 I think – a shorter version of these writings, with photos and a yellow cover. Forever known as “the yellow book” we have our copies still and the set of original photos that he chose to illustrate it. It is too big to post as a whole. In this post, I have taken a preface and one chapter about his parents Percy and Margaret Corbett from the longer version he wrote. I hope you find it a good read. I do. DCC memories – his parents

Dad’s own document of his publications runs to 16 pages – you have been warned.

He had left a hard copy with one hand-written addition that I have typed in, a short article from 1957. Other than that this is as he wrote it, last updated in 2001. In the short movie posted elsewhere on this blog I promised to try get this post done. Enjoy

DCC Publications

Before the fire on New Year’s Eve 2019

On New Year’s Day 2020

We have been paid the insurance but it is too soon to decide whether to rebuild.

We are grateful that NSW Government has undertaken to clear all the blocks burned out but this work will not be finished before June 2020. To build to current fire resistant standards would cost more than our insured amount.

Sadly, the NSW bushfires swept through North Rosedale on New Year’s Eve. They left most houses out of about 20 in our cul de sac burned to the ground. Ours is a total loss with all contents gone. Others have lost their permanent homes, including some dear neighbours.

We owned the house between Jenny’s family and mine, since 2010 and both Pat and David Corbett visited. Each of them loved the sea and had their last visits to the Aussie coast at our Rosedale refuge. So, we will miss it. It was insured and though clearing the land and making decisions is months away, we will keep our chins up and enjoy the wonderful memories we have.

An article in the Sunday Canberra Times on 19 January carries pictures of the house next to ours that survived. It is an interesting story about the way of the future, perhaps, in building in fire danger zones. The pile of brick rubble next to the house is what remains of our lovely holiday home.

A link is https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6586578/home-built-for-bushfires-remains-standing-while-others-are-rubble/?cs=14225#slide=0

Well, I’ve plunged into this one after a lot of thought but the editing is tough and I was meaning to keep it shorter. As well as biographic details for DCC, this covers some of the family history and hence explains some of the moves from Canada to Australia and within Aus over 45 years, to the best of my knowledge. I am aware that there are gaps and I am happy to hear comment, correction or more input from others. As with the Pat Corbett movie, I have not said anything about the grand children of David and Pat but they were absolutely important to both! Dad celebrated his 85th birthday just a week before he died. On that weekend he spoke to each of his 6 grand children and was engaged with each about what they were doing. He was much loved by them as well as by each of us, his four children. This post goes up on 24 July 2019. Dad would have turned 94 the next day but was well aware his body, not his mind, would fail to make that distance. We miss him. RIP. Here is the link:

David Corbett movie 23 mins

This post has me holding my breath and hoping it is an ok effort to describe Mum’s life. There are many ways to tell a story and this has to be my take on the main events of Mum’s life. Input and comments from others are welcome. In doing this I have realised I did not cover Grandma Pat’s pleasure in getting to know her 6 grandchildren who remember her fondly. She made a contribution (and baked great cakes!) for each one and enjoyed finding out what was going on in their worlds. There are other gaps but here is the link:

Pat Corbett movie

At Pat Corbett’s funeral in January 2016 our local ALP member of the federal House of Representatives, The Hon. Andrew Leigh, spoke about her contribution to the ALP and her positive approach. He subsequently read a version of this speech into the Hansard record of the Australian Parliament. Pat was made a lifetime member of the ALP in 2012, an honour indeed. She would have been delighted with the tribute included in these words.

Tribute to Pat Corbett

Kathleen E. Fisher wrote this wonderful poem shortly after Percy Corbett died in 1983. She had spent time with Percy conducting research about his contribution to the law and international relations not long before his death.

The poem appeared in the magazine of the McGill Law Faculty, “Quid Novi” in November 1983.  It was updated by the author and printed again in 1999 as part of an anniversary celebration edition called “Social Snapshots of McGill”. Kathy Fisher has since become an award winning Canadian poet and performer. This was her first published poem. Thank you Kathy. You are a dear friend, indeed.

After First Meeting Percy Corbett

Is it we who are women who are moved?

When an old man

dresses in a tie and an old cashmere sweater

with holes in the elbows to tell me about

his life

an illustrious life

a life so full we don’t know where to begin

He is excited.

I am overwhelmed.

His greatness is brushed aside.

I am to lead

He so anxious to help.

Is it we who are women who are moved?

When an old friend finds a link to his mentor

older still

and sparks light up in his eyes at the recollection

at the memories

the inspiration, aspirations, dreams

lived out

or

never to be realised.

It is touching

to be stirred

by a great man on the wane

striving to the last

giving until the end

all that he can.

He grateful to me

for being interested

Me unable to accept this modesty

as I am in awe of the image

Yet slain by the humility

and graciousness of a kind soul.

This is something I can’t quite put my finger on.

It is so powerful.

I have seen young men die before they ever bloomed

I saw the tragedy.

I am seeing old men who have bloomed, who have

lived, who have realised so much,

and more.

Yet everyone asks

Is he senile?

Can he remember?

And doubts my assessment of a, true, imperfect memory

but vivid, complete and the names forgotten

take only minutes to fill in after a brief search

through an address book or a pile of letters.

This old man is so vital, so alive, so caring, so feeling

that it moves me

to tears

and I ache

for

from

something

I can’t quite

put my finger on.

Patricia Corbett (nee Phillips) was an Australian academic and mother of four. Her academic and political life spanned many years from the 1950s to 2016. She was a sharp intellect, a social live-wire and a lover of travel.

Bio for Patricia Corbett

David Charles Corbett had a good life, was proudly Canadian by birth, married a live-wire Australian and became a permanent resident of Australia, the land that he loved. All four of his children have grown up in Australia. The majority of his academic career was in Australia. He took every possible chance to travel and was a great conversationalist.

Bio for David Charles Corbett