Bye to legend of old

THERE can be a tendency to look at the past through rose coloured glasses and exaggerate the greatness of those who have gone before.

It’s certainly true of the way we see our political leaders.

When Victorians go to the polls in November many will be choosing what they regard as the “least worst” option out of Daniel Andrews and Matthew Guy. As we are asked to contemplate our vote for the federal election, it is safe to say those casting a ballot for Malcolm Turnbull won’t be doing so with hearts aflame.

While those inclined to Bill Shorten are still engaged in the desperate long wait for him to reveal some kind of hidden depth.

This is hot on the heels of the race between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, who political veteran Laurie Oakes referred to as political “pygmies”.

With each passing day the leaders of the past — Howard, Hawke, Keating — look better and better.

But this is at least partly the result of how quickly information flies around the world now and how this digital age has seen the barriers fall between a select few who have inside information and “the great unwashed” of the broader public.

How would Winston Churchill’s drinking play in the modern world? Would a Ted Kennedy get to continue a political career after he drove a woman into a channel and fled the scene leaving her to drown?

The past is not always as rosy as it seems.

But it is hard when we look at some of those great men and women of previous generations — who bore war and poverty and general adversity with a stoic style — not to think we, and younger generations, pale in comparison.

When we compare the entitled outlook and off-field exploits of some current and former AFL stars with the greats of old these feelings come back strong.

Just look at Cats legend Russell “Hooker” Renfrey who was farewelled yesterday. Tough, funny, loveable, charming. Farewell to a legend.