I have never considered myself either a voyeur or an exhibitionist. Decades in government service have conditioned me to subordinate my personal view to that of the government of the day which I have served. So I am a little diffident about posting this eulogy to a friend and former colleague. But the founder of this forum has encouraged me to do this; he also knew and esteemed Glenn, our colleague and friend in common, and he rightly counselled me to record something of this man’s remarkable life and influence upon people and events around him. That Glenn could exercise that effect without losing his personal integrity, or the friendship and loyalty of his friends, speaks well of him.
I tried to speak of him honestly – and therefore well – in the eulogy I delivered at his memorial service in Sydney on 23 December 2020. This text is an adapted version of that eulogy – it includes others’ material and reflections I had omitted in the interest of avoiding length and repetition at the service, and it is slightly edited to respect the wishes of Glenn’s family in celebrating his life in this more public way, beyond the intimate group of family and friends present on the day. But it is testimony to Glenn – and to his widow (what a confronting label to apply to the life partner and love of someone who has died, aged a mere 61!) – that she supports my posting this testimonial.
May the best of 2020 – and that was in short supply, as we know – be the worst of your 2021.
Comments On “Eulogy for Glenn Waller”
Peter Tesch
Comrade. Thanks for enabling this to be published in this way. I agree it is worthy in itself. And it illuminates elements of a world some of us have known, perhaps even influenced in a small way. Nostalgia is as dangerous as it is inevitable as one ages (matures), but, even so, I have a mild sense of regret that some of the certainties and proportionality of that disappearing world will not accompany us in future. Glenn’s relatively short life (a mere 61 years) spanned some extraordinary moments. More will come, of course (indeed, we have been living in such a ‘moment’ these past four years); and yet …
Rakesh Ahuja
Good morning. I am so glad that this piece of yours will now be preserved. It has elicited 7 calls to me. People still have to learn to comment right here – or contact the blogger directly as they can on this site, and it is then up to the author to respond or not – instead of calling me. Anyway, an Italian diplomat knew Glenn; and a former (Indian) Foreign Secretary who had met Glenn asked if I would write a Eulogy for him to match yours. I said no. Others were just fascinated by the sheer breadth and informality of Australian diplomacy in action.
