Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was myhero during the 1970s, but I did him a disserviceat Sydney's Oktoberfest.
Thisphotograph I shotofWhitlam, mid-speech, clutching a giant beer stein looking like he'sas drunk as tenmen appeared on the front page of The Daily Telegraph.
In reality, Gough was a moderate drinkerwhensocialising with admirers like me.I know this because at another function, the great man nursed a single beer for more than half an hour while weshareda drink and talkedpolitics.
Gough Whitlam wasaniconoclast and luminary.The privilege of being a working photojournalist meant I got to better photograph himon other occasions.
Bill McAuley's 40-plus-year news career began in 1969 as a cadet photographer at 'The Age' in Melbourne.
He has several publishedcollections, including 'Portraits of the Soul: A lifetime of images with Bill McAuley' and the recently launched, 'Last light on Victoria Dock, 1999'. To see more from Bill, clickhere.
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