They are the words the Australian nation will never forget, and most will remember as being uttered by the ‘giant of his time’,  Gough Whitlam, after being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr on November 11, 1975 on the steps of Parliament. 

While most remember the turn of phrase as a most humble and resigned ending from a short and enigmatic parliamentary career, local Yass resident Peg Keogh described it as something entirely different. 

“When I first met the Whitlams I was utterly surprised by how full of life, fun and how knowledgeable they were. You know when you meet someone you admire and you are dying to ask them a question, well my husband Norm was just busting to ask them about the dismissal,” Peg said. 

“Gough explained that when he phoned Margaret to tell her what had happened she was at him, ‘Did you slap him? Did you rip the document up in his face?’ She was furious. Gough had simply replied, 'It was a legal document, I could never have ripped it up'.”

“I think that speaks volumes for the man himself.”

Peg and Norman Keogh first met the Whitlams on a tour they took in 1995 to Russia, hosted by both Gough and Margaret. Pacing the Red Square, taking in the architecture and soaking up the arts, the Keogh’s discovered the many mysteries and intrigues of both the land and their tour guides. 

“There was never a time where we weren’t having fun, Gough’s most famous quote to us was ‘The fun is wherever I am’.”

Peg describes how they were never stumped for a word and no word was ever wasted, there was always something fundamentally honest, raw and interesting about what they were saying. 

“He had this connection with people, he could speak with children, to the elderly, and we all know that he could talk to the politicians,” Peg laughs.

“Margaret though, she was amazing, she was just as intelligent as Gough, the two of them together were unstoppable. She knew a lot about the arts, culture, history and most anything you wanted to talk about she was able to offer up some sort of story without overpowering the conversation.”

Margaret Whitlam passed away in 2012 and Pegg will always remember her as the woman who took her knitting needles to parliamentary meetings to support her husband, she was a huge influence for feminism and known for her famous quote, ‘I am not a mouthpiece of my husband’.

In 1996 Peg and Norm took their second trip with the Whitlams to South America, strolling along the Incas, shoulder to belly. 

“I remember being at one of the many stops in South America and there was a backpacker on the street. He turned to Norm and I and said, ‘Isn’t that Gough Whitlam?’ we laughed and said yes, ‘do you think he would talk to me?’ Norm and I encouraged him to go over to meet him.”

“The two were in deep conversation for a while and the boy kept shaking his hand. I am positive that boy will never forget the time he met Gough Whitlam, taking on a tour fifty Australians in a beaten old bus, on the streets of South America.”    

Norma Keogh passed away on October 6, 2010. He was known in the local area as a passionate Labor supporter. Working closely with the local branch and financial advisor for Terry Sheahan.  

“Gough Whitlam was a great hero to Norm, to meet him was one of the great moments in his life. I guess to describe Gough I only have to say that Norm respected Gough before he met him, when he came to know the man, that respect turned to admiration.”

Gough Whitlam is a perpetual reminder to people that sometimes you have to dare to be great, to stick to your vision. Although many may not have supported the man’s ideas and policies, none can argue that his life was lived with conviction. As Tony Abbott described, he was a man ‘hard to disagree with and impossible to dislike".

For those few like Peg Keogh privileged to see him at close quarters,  there is more to him than a parliamentary legacy, but a snapshot in time. She will always remember the time she and her husband went on a walk with the Whitlams.