Sadly I cannot be at Anne McDonald’s memorial service on the 13th November in Melbourne as I’ll be in the US then, but the final verse and chorus from New Model Army’s song “Ambition” has been going around in my head for a while now and seems a fitting final statement.

And when she’s gone forever, please don’t lay her down to rest
In a quiet little churchyard along with all the rest
Throw a great big party to remember that she lived
Give her headlines on the TV to remember who she is

‘Cause no one’s ever going to talk down to her again
No one’s ever going to patronise her again
She’s going to get out of this town, steal herself a crown
She’s going to get herself some power
If it’s the last thing that she does
If it’s the one thing that she does
If it’s the only thing that she ever does

Thank you Anne.