Last night in Darling Harbour, the undisputed king of talkback radio Alan Jones celebrated 25 years as a broadcaster in a star-studded dinner hosted by John Singleton. You either love or hate this man, spruker for good causes and loyal supporter of the Liberal Party. Eleven hundred of his nearest and dearest were there with him to share his day in the sun.
James Packer delivered an emotional speech and his voice cracked when he described how Jones had helped thousands of people over the years, many anonymously. It's believed that Jones also played an important part in the life of James when he was growing up.
Former Prime Minister John Howard repeated the comment that Jones made famous - to "pick and stick" by your friends. He said Jones, more than anyone else, understood the power of talkback radio to influence politics outside Canberra, namely the Republican debate in 1999 and global warming a year later. "Alan has understood the temperament and nature of the Australian people, they don't like being told by self-appointed cultural dieticians that we should be ashamed of our past - Alan understood that."
And Alan gave us a glimpse of his next campaign - one we have all despaired over but never thought anything could be done - he's going to start a crusade against opencut mining and how they are turning rich pastoral land into wastelands for profit. "The aim of power in this world is to lift people, not crush them". Bring it on.
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