User:Pedant2009

SILLY OLD BUGGER

After a 'throw-away' remark on September 26th, 1989 by then Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, in 1989, the expression 'silly old bugger' has become part of Australian folklore. In Whyalla, a small town of 21,000 people about 300 kilometres NW of Adelaide in South Australia, an ordinary day on the campaign trail for PM Bob Hawke sent the expression around the world when the PM found himself accosted by resident, Bob Bell. An age pensioner, Mr. Bell disturbed the friendly atmosphere of the shopping centre walk-through by stopping in front of the PM and saying: "You get more a week than we get a year." Trying to ignore the interruption, Mr Hawke turned away from him, mumbling: "Silly old bugger." Unfortunately, the microphones picked up the remark and from then on it appeared in all news reports of the day. In 1999 there was a suggestion that Whyalla might commemorate the event by establishing a memorial to all 'silly old buggers' in the Westlands Shopping Mall. In recent years, Bob Hawke himself is often referred to as 'a silly old bugger'and even former Liberal Prime Minister, John Howard, has earned the title. (http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/expm-consigns-himself-to-past/2008/03/11/1205125911270.html)