\u00a0This morning I heard an interview with Ita Buttrose. I love listening to Ita and heartily applaud her choice as Australian of the Year. I think her the greatest ambassador for women, standing up for us with charm and dignity: subtle, yet tenacious.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Thankfully, she has put to flight the unkempt stereotypical image of the 1970s Women’s Libber. Invariably perfectly groomed, Ita would be appalled by hairy armpits, I feel;\u00a0and, as far as I know, has never advocated the burning of bras; but with diplomatic finesse, she continues to beaver away for feminism.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the same gentle, conciliating manner, Ita both praised and reproved the Prime Minister, Germaine Greer and the Opposition Leader.<\/p>\n
‘He’s not a misogynist,’ she said of Tony Abbott. ‘Men say things without thinking. They need re-educating.’<\/p>\n
‘What will we do, Ita?’ asked the interviewer.<\/p>\n
‘Continue to educate them,’ she said.<\/p>\n
I could hear the smile in her voice, the tolerance, the charm that allows her to comment without offence. I hope they were listening and took note of what she had to say.<\/p>\n
\u00a0And then there is her famous lisp, making her the butt of various comedians, whose derogatory sketches she accepts with patience and humour. I wonder if you’ve ever thought what a monumental impediment it is to being taken seriously? Yet, Ita overcame it, made it part of her identity. An incredible achievement when you realise that authors give their characters a lisp when they wish to portray them as effeminate(men), weak, or childish.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Ita is practical, having a wealth of experience at her disposal. She knows what it’s like to have a husband walk out on her; to rear her children alone; to succeed in a man’s world and come out a wiser person, without losing any of her femininity. If you want practical advice on any of the above, you can do no better than to ask Ita.<\/p>\n
\u00a0As a journalist, Ita commands respect for her attitude and integrity. Journalists everywhere: take a tip from an acknowledged leader of your craft. Her disapproval of the modern penchant<\/em> for reporting rumours and just plain untruths as fact resonates with me. And what she had to say about them wasn’t subtle.<\/p>\n ‘I have my own opinions,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to read the opinions of journalists. I want the truth. And then I can form an opinion for myself.’<\/p>\n I will go along with that. I stopped reading women’s magazines years ago because I was disgusted with the spiteful innuendo and frankly damaging gossip reported as fact.<\/p>\n Pay attention, Journos, and you will have at least one new reader and possibly many more.<\/p>\n \u00a0I have said, tritely perhaps, that I is for Ita but I have found a few more I-words that are apt.<\/p>\n I personally find her\u00a0incredible: infinitely inspiring. Kerry Packer found her indispensable in saving the Womens Weekly. She is the indisputable hero of her industry, truly a Media Icon. She is an indomitable champion of women’s rights. Yet, through it all, Ita has maintained her individuality with common-sense,\u00a0warmth and charm. She is immaculate, inimitable in her insight and feminine wisdom. Just now, she is focusing her innovative ideas on health.<\/p>\n \u00a0Towards the end of the interview, Ita said she felt her work(on earth) wasn’t yet finished. She was waiting for the door to open. ‘They do, you know,’ she said.<\/p>\n Well, Ita: Australian of the Year is a pretty substantial door. I think it has opened. I, for one, am looking forward to the next exciting episode.<\/p>\n \u00a0I is for Inspiration \u2014<\/span> and Ita.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0This morning I heard an interview with Ita Buttrose. I love listening to Ita and heartily applaud her choice as Australian of the Year. I think her the greatest ambassador for women, standing up for us with charm and dignity: … Continue reading