CONFERENCE AND MEMBERSHIP MEMORIES
RETIRED JUDGE TOM BROADMORE
"One strongly feel-good memory arises from a MLAANZ conference in Sydney in 1983. It coincided with the final stages of the Australian challenge for the America's Cup. As I recall it, the teams were three-all and everything depended on the final race. This 'twas to take place overnight after, I think, the first day of the conference. The whole of Sydney was at fever pitch. Taxi drivers, and most other citizens, had become experts at the tactics of head-to-head yacht racing and the advantages of the winged keel on the Australian boat. I think most of the Australian delegates were up for most of the night. In the end, of course, Australia won, thanks to a courageous tack by the Australian boat on the final leg. In the morning, the talk was of nothing else, with every Australian extolling the courage and skill of the Australian team and how good it was to triumph over the Yanks.
"Into that ferment stepped the first speaker for the day – an American! It was Frank Wiswall, a celebrated academic maritime lawyer. Poor fellow. But he took it all in good part, freely acknowledging that Australia were worthy winners. And so the world returned to equilibrium.
"The only other memory I'd like to offer comes from the formal opening of the CMI conference in Sydney in about 1993(?). The venue was the main auditorium of the Opera House. As chair of the New Zealand Branch, I was to add my welcome to what Stuart Hetherington had said on behalf of the Association as a whole. After taking a deep breath, I started with a formal greeting in Māori – common enough in New Zealand – but how would Australians and the maritime world generally, receive it? Particularly in a place with such an aura and a place so symbolic of Australia throughout the world.
"Well, nobody jeered or threw anything, so I suppose it was okay. I add that I had discussed the use of Māori with Māori colleagues in New Zealand and they were approving of it. I might have been the first person to utter words in Māori on the stage of the Opera House, but I have no idea whether that could ever be established."
"One strongly feel-good memory arises from a MLAANZ conference in Sydney in 1983. It coincided with the final stages of the Australian challenge for the America's Cup. As I recall it, the teams were three-all and everything depended on the final race. This 'twas to take place overnight after, I think, the first day of the conference. The whole of Sydney was at fever pitch. Taxi drivers, and most other citizens, had become experts at the tactics of head-to-head yacht racing and the advantages of the winged keel on the Australian boat. I think most of the Australian delegates were up for most of the night. In the end, of course, Australia won, thanks to a courageous tack by the Australian boat on the final leg. In the morning, the talk was of nothing else, with every Australian extolling the courage and skill of the Australian team and how good it was to triumph over the Yanks.
"Into that ferment stepped the first speaker for the day – an American! It was Frank Wiswall, a celebrated academic maritime lawyer. Poor fellow. But he took it all in good part, freely acknowledging that Australia were worthy winners. And so the world returned to equilibrium.
"The only other memory I'd like to offer comes from the formal opening of the CMI conference in Sydney in about 1993(?). The venue was the main auditorium of the Opera House. As chair of the New Zealand Branch, I was to add my welcome to what Stuart Hetherington had said on behalf of the Association as a whole. After taking a deep breath, I started with a formal greeting in Māori – common enough in New Zealand – but how would Australians and the maritime world generally, receive it? Particularly in a place with such an aura and a place so symbolic of Australia throughout the world.
"Well, nobody jeered or threw anything, so I suppose it was okay. I add that I had discussed the use of Māori with Māori colleagues in New Zealand and they were approving of it. I might have been the first person to utter words in Māori on the stage of the Opera House, but I have no idea whether that could ever be established."