The bells are ringing out for Julia Gillard

A photograph of former prime minister Julia Gillard taken by 12-year-old Sophie Deane.

On Wednesday, it will be 10 years since Julia Gillard became Australia’s first female prime minister. There was a big celebration online on Sunday, but guess who didn’t know it?

Julia’s neighbour, Beverley.

How do we know? Because when the event went live at 2.30pm, all you could hear was: ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong.

It was one of those moments when Gillard was all set up, ready in front of her Zoom camera for the big event, and Beverley was at the door, apparently keen to come in for a bit of a natter.

Gillard could hardly get up and answer. She was about to go live to the world. And so, when her former parliamentary colleague and friend Tanya Plibersek opened the discussion by saying: “Hello, Julia, where are you and what are you doing?” she had to reply: “I’m in Adelaide, and you can probably hear the doorbell ringing … it’s Beverley from next door, and I’m sure she’ll get the message soon that nobody is coming to the door.”

But no, she was not getting the message. Beverley — if indeed Beverley it was — kept ringing and ringing with greater urgency.

“She’s a very persistent neighbour, isn’t she,” Plibersek said. “She is a very persistent neighbour,” Gillard agreed, laughing: “I am going to keep apologising for that doorbell … obviously she doesn’t realise I’m on this webinar.”

Sophie’s choice photo 

You know who did, though? Special guest Wayne Swan, the former treasurer. He was there, as was the member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon, who said they were celebrating “10 years since having elected” Julia as the PM.

Well, not quite. Gillard was appointed by the party. But, as Plibersek reminded viewers, she was the nation’s first female prime minister (also the first female deputy prime minister), and that’s a significant achievement. And she’s now on the world stage where she “hangs out” with people like Rihanna and Hillary Clinton.

Gillard is cautious about getting involved in contemporary debates, but she was proud of many of the achievements of her government, among them plain packaging for cigarettes, and the NDIS, which reminded her of a special encounter with a little girl of 12 named Sophie Deane, who has Down syndrome. “We were having a cup of coffee and she loved to take photographs,” Gillard said. They formed a bond, and Sophie climbed onto her lap at one point, and then came a moment where she was bobbing down to Sophie’s eye-level, and Sophie took the joyful photo (seen here) that may be one of the best pictures ever taken of a prime minister. It has since been acquired by the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

Hit and misogyny

Viewers were given three polls, one of which was: which was your favourite moment of the Gillard prime ministership? The misogyny speech won it in a canter. Did you know it’s now been set to dance music, and the hit song gets all the millennials rocking?

Viewers were also asked: what do we need to do to make sure we have another female PM in our lifetime? I know the answer to that one: one of the major parties will have to run a female candidate, and a majority of voters have to elect them. Or else it’s coup time. And we promised we wouldn’t do that anymore.

Kevin puts the boot in

For strewth - Kevin rudd and wife Terese Rein at Pitchfork Restaurant wearing Ugg boots. Supplied

Speaking of Kevin Rudd, who is this we spy having a bite to eat with his wife, Therese Rein, at the Pitchfork restaurant south of Noosa? Yes, it is he. And look at his shoes! Not everyone’s idea of style, but should somebody say: “Hey, Kevin, what do you think of the celebration of all things Julia — and also, what’s that on your feet?” he could respond: “Ugh!”