Bennelong by-election: John Alexander reveals father’s history
A KEY figure in the Bennelong by-election was an “inverted snob” who almost stopped John Alexander’s successful tennis career.
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A KEY figure in the Bennelong by-election was an “inverted snob” who almost stopped John Alexander’s successful tennis career.
When most of the 106,582 voters go to the polls on Saturday, they will do so because of a discovery in November about the father of then Liberal MP Mr Alexander.
Gilbert Alexander was born in the UK, which his son had not revealed. The ensuing public debate soon prompted questions about dual citizenship, and Mr Alexander resigned.
Gilbert was born in 1907, and moved to Australia at the age of three with his parents and brothers.
He developed a love of cricket and later played for his school, Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore).
The young man eventually met Thelma Hipgrave, who became his wife. They had four children, John the youngest and only son, and settled on the northern beaches.
Gilbert’s choice of location lead to a family joke.
“My sister used to refer to him as an inverted snob,” Mr Alexander said of his father.
“It was interesting because some of the Shore boys lived there, but (dad) just wanted the best place for his family to live and grow up,” Mr Alexander said.
Gilbert ran electrical stores, and his son recalled a man who was a serious thinker, deeply philosophical and outrageously funny.
The elder Alexander also provided a tennis court at home, where John and his sisters’ love of tennis would blossom.
John was initially not allowed to join family games because of his weak serve.
“I showed them,” he said of his later progress.
He often played tennis with his father before school, and his talent became obvious.
He later joined the world tour, but after about a year of playing on the tour, Gilbert soon showed he had other plans for his son.
He started introducing John to stockbrokers and estate agents.
Mr Alexander recalled his own confusion: “I said, `what’s all this about, dad’.
“Dad said: ‘well, you’ve had a couple of years playing tennis, it’s time you got a job’.
“I said: `but I’m a superstar’.”
Alexander senior countered: “but you’re not making any money”.
Yet the young tennis pro had been saving. He showed his father a suitcase which stored his earnings. It held about $6,000 — plenty of money for the time.
Gilbert was proud.
“He was impressed I had made money and allowed me to keep playing tennis,” Mr Alexander said.
Gilbert died in 1987. He never saw his son’s foray into politics — encouraged by Liberal leader of the time Brendan Nelson and former prime minister John Howard — or subsequent election as Bennelong MP in 2010.
Mr Alexander has no doubt as to what his father would have made of his new career.
“Dad would have loved it, and had a lot of advice,” he said.
“He was somebody who was a great, interesting educator about the Calwell-Menzies era.”
Arthur Calwell was a Labor leader and chief rival of Liberal Prime Minister Robert Menzies during the 60s.
Despite their positions, the two had a healthy respect for each other and often had lunch together at the end of sitting weeks.
It’s a novel approach Mr Alexander resurrected while MP.
The Calwell-Menzies club at parliament meets for lunch regularly and has attracted Liberal and Labor members keen to discuss issues in the absence of their political allegiances.
It’s a lunchtime conversation which Gilbert would have dearly loved to join.