To understand former South Australian premier, Don Dunstan, is to understand a man who tried to drag a 19th-century society into the 21st century in just ten years.
I am glad he lived and glad he managed to do what he did in South Australia, especially for his understanding of the importance of The Arts. In this way, he shared the insight that former SAS operative, Harry Moffit espouses in his book, The Fourth Pillar. Harry argues that Australians are okay looking after the physical, psychological, and social self, but we have forgotten the philosophical self. When a man who has pushed himself to the phsycial and psychological limits that Harry has, says we need to grow up and spend time silently in reflection on deep questions, for which art can be an entry point, you know there is something here that lurks well beyond the typical, dismissive jibes such a claim gets in the general population.
This space Don carved out for The Arts has given us a valuable release valve for exploring “uncomfortable ideas“, without resorting to the Punch And Judy theatrics that happen in other parts of the world when different ideaologies meet. That is why we have said “goodnight Don” at the end of every episode of The Adelaide Show podcast since 2013.
In approaching this task of remembering Don Dunstan, I drew upon deeply held memories, scoured different histories, reflected on the mission and work of the Don Dunstan Foundation, and did my best to sit with his public life until I saw some common threads.
Aside from having shook his hand once, at Adelaide University, the closest I ever came to understanding Don Dunstan was through the book, Don Dunstan, Intimacy and Liberty by Dino Hodge. We interviewed Dino in 2014 on The Adelaide Show, and he generously took us through many facets of Don’s life. You can find the episodes here: Dino Hodge interview part one, Dino Hodge interview part two.
Then, in 2017, we interviewed David Pearson from the Don Dunstan Foundation, to talk about our former premier and his legacy that lives on through his foundation.
Two strands that emerged from this reflection are, firstly, Don had a vision of a place where all South Australians could “be proud and be seen”, and, secondly, he had the bravery to see this through.
It also became clear that he would not have had the success he had, were it not for opposition leader, Steele Hall. Steele was equally a man driven by a sound set of values that transcended party politics. This is why he is mentioned in the song. Steele Hall also showed great courage at great personal and party political cost, to stand up for the right thing, including the dismantling of the gerrymandering (or Playmandering) that had keped Sir Thomas Playford in power for 27 years due to the 3-to-1 weighting in favour of votes from country areas.
Was Don Dunstan perfect? Of course not. There are various anecdotes and stories about different deals and power wielding, although I hold these lightly.
That said, the various aspects of Don’s work captured in this song, includes (in no particular order):
- Dismantling “Six O’Clock Swill”, when pubs had to close at 6pm, leading to workers “swilling” as much beer as possible between knock off and pub closing time.
- Censorship: Books and plays were frequently banned by the “Vice Squad.”
- Decriminalisation of Homosexuality (1975): Following the 1972 death of law lecturer Dr. George Duncan (who was thrown into the River Torrens and drowned, allegedly by police), Dunstan pushed through the first laws in Australia to decriminalize gay sex.
- Aboriginal Land Rights: In 1966 (as Attorney-General), he introduced the first Aboriginal Land Rights Act in Australia. Later, he appointed Sir Douglas Nicholls as the first Indigenous Governor of an Australian state.
- The Safari Suit Cabinet: He famously hated the “stuffy” British suit. He often appeared in Parliament in a safari suit (no tie) and encouraged his Cabinet to do the same to “dress for the climate.”
- Rundle Mall: He stood on a crate in the middle of a busy, traffic-congested street in 1976 to officially open Rundle Mall, having banned cars from the city’s main shopping strip—a move that local businesses initially fought tooth and nail.
- The Resignation (1979): Exhausted, grieving, and suffering from stress-related illness, Dunstan resigned from the Premiership in a highly dramatic fashion—wearing a dressing gown at a press conference on the steps of the hospital where he was being treated.
- The Arts “Explosion”: He built the Adelaide Festival Centre (Steele Hall was key to choosing the location) and established the SA Film Corporation, turning Adelaide into a “Festival City.”
- The Salisbury Affair (1978): Dunstan discovered that the Police Special Branch had been keeping secret dossiers on thousands of citizens (including himself, activists, and judges) labeled as “subversives.” When Police Commissioner Harold Salisbury refused to destroy them or admit their extent, Dunstan sacked him. This triggered a massive judicial inquiry and a public backlash from “law and order” advocates.
- The “Pink Shorts” Day (November 22, 1972): He arrived at Parliament House wearing bright pink polyester shorts (close inspection later revealed they were a burgundy-and-white double-knit, but they photographed as a vibrant pink), a tight white T-shirt, white knee-high socks, and brown shoes. His press secretaries and minders were terrified of the optics. They spent most of the day trying to shield him from the media, literally blocking doorways to keep photographers away. However, at 4:00 PM, Dunstan “snuck out” a side door and walked onto the steps of Parliament House, posing with a massive grin for the waiting cameras. The News (the local paper) ran the headline: “Dazzling Don Dunstan Has Done It Again.” They described him as a “beacon in the grey conservative decor.” Dunstan later explained it was a “salute to diversity.” He wanted to prove that a man’s worth wasn’t tied to a “grey suit” and that South Australia was a place where you could be yourself without fear of the “establishment.”
- Stewart Cockburn: A powerhouse journalist for The Advertiser. He was Dunstan’s “media shadow,” writing scathing critiques that painted Dunstan as a flamboyant narcissist. Cockburn was the primary voice of the “Establishment” that Dunstan loved to provoke.
- That “tidal wave”: The Adelaide Tsunami Scare of 1976 became a symbol of Dunstan’s personality, a mix of theatrical bravado and a rationalist’s refusal to be intimidated. In late 1975, a Melbourne clairvoyant and house painter named John Nash predicted that on January 19, 1976, a massive earthquake and tidal wave would wipe out Adelaide. He claimed it was divine retribution for South Australia’s “sinful” ways, specifically Dunstan’s decriminalization of homosexuality and relaxation of censorship laws. People actually believed it. Beachfront property prices plummeted as owners tried to sell and flee. Thousands of residents evacuated to the Adelaide Hills or left the state entirely. Instead of ignoring the hysteria, Dunstan decided to mock it. He treated the “apocalypse” like a street party. Dunstan appeared on the balcony of the Pier Hotel (right where the Stamford Grand stands now) overlooking the Gulf St. Vincent. Wearing one of his iconic safari suits, he stood before the crowd like King Canute, the legendary king who tried to command the tide to stay back. He gave a speech reassuring the city that “the only thing that will happen today is that we will all get a bit hotter.” 12:00 PM came and went. The sea stayed calm. Dunstan laughed and famously told the media that John Nash “wasn’t welcome back in Adelaide.”
Some other notable milestones that did not make the song, include, abolishing the death penalty, introducing cooling off periods for door to door sales and used car sales, nudist beaches with Maslin’s Australia’s first official nude beach, and the asianisation of food. There are many more, but that is a good sample.
The song includes recollections of Don’s milestones, rounded off by a paraphrasing of some of his quotes. The bridge finishes with our celebratory chorus of attitudes and events.
The chorus mentions Don’s life being no brief candle but rather a mighty torch that shone. This is a reflection of George Bernard Shaw’s famous quote, which just seems to fit Don, both for its surface meaning but also because both men agitated for the greater good of all.
“Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” – George Bernard Shaw
I chose a Brechtian cabaret style for this song because it was one of his favourite types of music, which makes sense given his adoration of Robin Archer.
I hope you enjoy it.
Goodnight Don Lyrics
[Verse 1]
We had police spending time
Lurking in shadows
Looking through windows
They were not fighting crime
They were the kill joys
Hunting the bad boys
[Refrain 1
What man does at home
Is his own affair
If no one else gets hurt
Why should we care?
[Chorus]
Goodnight Don, thanks for the dreams
Thanks for colour in the grey
Thanks for breaking hidden schemes
That kept us locked in yesterday
Your life was no brief candle
Was a mighty torch that shone
We follow in your shadow
Saying thanks, and goodnight Don
[Verse 2]
With the help of Steele Hall
You made voting fair
Brought festival flair
And champagne in the Mall
Toast to shared history
And our sweet legacy
[Refrain 2]
The arts and reform
Are not luxury
For society
It’s air that we breathe
[Chorus]
Goodnight Don, thanks for the dreams
Thanks for colour in the grey
Thanks for breaking hidden schemes
That kept us locked in yesterday
Your life was no brief candle
Was a mighty torch that shone
We follow in your shadow
Saying thanks, and goodnight Don
[Verse 3]
The old guard were quite upset
Coburn he was cocked
Some zealots were shocked
The pink shorts on the steps
Welcomed to this place
Each sex, creed, or race
[Refrain 3]
Dress for the climate
Don’t dress for the Queen
May South Australians
Be proud and be seen
[Chorus]
Goodnight Don, thanks for the dreams
Thanks for colour in the grey
Thanks for breaking hidden schemes
That kept us locked in yesterday
Your life was no brief candle
Was a mighty torch that shone
We follow in your shadow
Saying thanks, and goodnight Don
[Bridge]
Our Don
You stared down god, at the water’s edge
Our Don
You told first nations, that they had your pledge
Our Don
You stopped the swill, to which we raise a glass
Our Don
When you fell ill, you never lost your class
Our Don
You made your mark, we’ll never be the same
Our Don
You should leadership, meant being brave
Our Don
You gave the service, that we needed then
Our Don
We won’t see anyone, like you again
[Final Chorus]
Goodnight Don, thanks for the dreams
Thanks for colour in the grey
Thanks for breaking hidden schemes
That kept us locked in yesterday
Your life was no brief candle
Was a mighty torch that shone
We follow in your shadow
Saying thanks, and goodnight Don
Listen To Goodnight Don
Goodnight Don Raw Scratchings
Here are the notes I scribbled as the ideas took shape.
