"Everyone's Uncle Michael"

On Saturday 7 October 2006 there was a 70th birthday rort (original meaning: a good
party with lots of grog, singing and fun) for "Everyone's Uncle Michael" (ref. Gabby Phillips @ dinner, Canberra, 2 Oct 06). A 13-course degustation menu...




...in Melbourne at the House of Alison and Rod.






10 participating chefs...



...drink waiters...


...sous and commis chefs, and of course many scullions....


Under AWA legislation no one was permitted to refuse their assigned roles. The theme, 1936 (year of Michael's birth) brought forth the best and worst in the assembly, and much ingenuity. And thereby hangs...

....a tail!


Guess who they are impersonating from 1936! (And find out at the end of this posting)





















Pre-lunch sparkling burgundy (in fact shiraz, but sparkling burgundy was the bubbly of choice at Wrest ('Wrestling') Point Hotel Hobart in the late 50s) was offered and taken in abundant quantities on the sunlit terrace.




All was decorum at this stage.


Rules were in place for orderly behaviour and the control of speeches:
Rule 1. No more than 20 words
Rule 2. No mention of the terms 'birthday', '70', '3 score years and ten', 'occasion', 'drink to', 'long life', 'many happy returns', 'congratulations', 'here's to', 'biblical span', 'vodka', 'happy', 'happiness', 'best wishes', 'president', 'for the future', 'raise your glasses'.

Outstanding Rear Services Work (后勤工作) by the Rear Services Team (pictured)...

...promised perfect organisation for a perfect event.

However, our photographer extraordinaire, no respecter of decorum, was on hand at every turn to record the progression from decorum to levity.




The historic event began in earnest with speeches...



...Michael ending his with this lovely verse...



Most guests were decorous and attentive



Some had seen FitzGerald performances before and were careful to laugh in the right places


But some were unfortunately inattentive, disrespectful and even smirked surreptitiously

However with a few sherries people began to relax.



Some became quite relaxed.


Some quite forgot their manners.


And received a severe dressing down.


As the afternoon wore on, some abandoned their part but others remained indelibly 'on role'.



Speeches became more frequent and less inhibited


Roy Orbison lost his trademark props in an impromptu gig.


The demand for drink became more frenzied, but the Don-turned-fieldsman made a brilliant save.



The truly excellent rules for speeches of tribute were, in drink, regrettably treated as a joke. Some made a show of observing them. Others flouted them. Some tributes were in prose, some in verse. Some versifiers had a sense of verse. Others had not. See the result of this mayhem at the end of this post.

At 6.00pm "all those who could stand, walk or crawl" (ref. F.G. FitzGerald snr, ad infinitum) got themselves outside for a record that would actually provide material evidence of this unlikely event.


"So call the field to rest; and let's away,
To part the glories of this happy day."






WHO THEY WERE
Adrian - the 1936 trunk-line connection to Tasmania
Alex - Wallis Simpson
Alison - The Tasmanian Tiger, the last of which died in 1936
Andrea - Katherine Hepburn, who in 1936 played Mary, Queen of Scots in 'Mary Queen of Scotland'
Cath - Captain of the Queen Mary, first trans-Atlantic crossing in 1936
Cora - Greta Garbo, 1936 ' her best year'
Dibbs -1936 Berlin Olympics
Frank - Don Bradman
Gay - 'La Pasionaria', Dolores Ibarruri? - joined the parliament of Republican Spain in 1936, made the famous speech "They shall not pass"
Janet - Jack Metcalfe, the only Australian to win a medal (Bronze) at the 1936 Berlin Olympics which was for the triple jump.
Judy - The Tasmanian Tiger, the last of which died in 1936
Justine - The Spanish Civil War
Marg - Friends' School pupil
Michael - Rudyard Kipling, died 1936 aged 70
Penny - A 1936 Everywoman
Peter (Phillips) - Roy Orbison, born in 1936
Peter (Simpson) - "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Ernest Hemingway, written or published 1936
Rod - Chef for the first course and photographer extraordinaire
Ros - midwife at Michael's birth, Sister Rees
Rosalind (Lester) - Sister Elizabeth Kenny, the nurse who looked after Joh Bjelke Petersen when he had polio in 1936
Rosemary - "A Gun for Hire" by Graeme Greene, written or published 1936
Ruth - Baby Michael
Steve - Fergie FitzGerald, our Dad
Stuart - golfer Peter Thompson born in 1936
Sue - Edna Walling, landscape designer, designed the garden in 1936 where Dame Elizabeth Murdoch now lives
Valerie - The Duchess of Windsor
Wendy - The Duchess of Windsor

WHAT THEY SAID
There once was a very old unc
Who was a bit of a spunk
When he turned 69 plus one
He was still lots of fun
As any good dirty old monk
Ade (nephew)

Loyal, funny, clever, wicked, wild, wonderful and my friend
Alex (Wallis S.)

Dear dear Michael you bring such joy, laughter & warmth to all that you touch - national treasure indeed love
Andrea

May this day be more than you could’ve hoped for.
Cath

Thank you for being the best brother in law in the world and for always keeping in touch
Cora

To Michael
He knoweth all; the Good Times and the bad
He knoweth all; the rest is bullshit!
Good evening
Dibbs

Thank you for being such a good tenant.
Frank

I’m another sister in law
After Cora and Ros in awe
Uncle Michael has charmed us
Made us FitzGerald lovers
And drinkers and songsters galore
Gay

To a hugely magnificent family member who has shown me how wonderful and important family is Rimini Lloyd Adrian & I cherish your presence in our lives
Janet

Miguel querido
Feliz cumpleanos!
Al tio mas fine en el mundo
Amigo de mi alma
Te quiero mucho
Justine

I am overcome to be present amongst such a star studded group of friends and relations on this auspicious occasion.
Cousin Marg (Miss Henfrey)


Michael,
- - your - - and - - - - - - My – on this - - is unbounded. –
Peter P

Michael you have been just the best brother-in-law anyone could hope to have Thank you for being you love
Ros

I represent people in Muswell Hill Highbury (London) and Kilburn (Adelaide) who send you much love.
Rosemary

Michael, A fine sepuagenarian (sic) who brought merlot, sudoku, roaring forties blue and delightful friendship into the lives of
The Simpsons

As a fellow septuagenarian, we shall progress together to wherever.
Stuart

To Michael,
May the tram of your life continue to carry you many more stops
Sue

Darling Michael Always gorgeous to see you. Wonderful day to you and for you. You are all our children’s uncle!
Wendy

M is for Michael M is for marvellous!
Michael you are marvellous!
Magnificent and never mercenary
Accomplished, the antithesis of avaricious
Rude (just a little) and reverent (rarely)
Vital
Energetic
Learned, still learning, a leader full of Life and Laughter
Outrageous (at times) and Overseas (often)
Uncle to everyone, understanding (usually) but understated (uncommon)
Singing and putting the rest of us to shame
Alison

I loved him (as a child) and when he was there I felt the world was right and everything was in its place - then as now.
Steve

Guest of honour’s privilege
Its my birthday, I’m 70, I’ve achieved my 3 score years and ten. On this occasion, I drink to your long life, wish you happiness for the future and as the ex-President raise my glass of vodka and say here’s to many happy returns.
Michael


A disc can be sent to anyone who would like a copy of all 183 photos!