A Multidimensional Australian

Of Life and of Leadership is not a typical, unidimensional autobiography. This is because it is about Dr Brendan Nelson AO, a truly multidimensional Australian. Nelson relates his early family life, his university days, followed by his careers in medicine, then federal politics, then international diplomacy, then running the Australian War Memorial, and finally in the corporate world with Boeing.

He writes about his working-class Catholic upbringing in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. He then outlines his path into medicine at the fledgling Flinders Medical School, as well as some medical student anecdotes of love and study. Importantly, the provenance of the famous, flamboyant long hair and earring is not omitted!

The consummate writer-raconteur, Nelson’s recollections gather strength and detail as he recounts his days as a general practitioner, leader of the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and his fateful introduction to Dr Bruce Shepherd. Shepherd became a father-figure to Nelson, ushering him into the federal AMA and subsequently into the Liberal Party and federal politics. Like most father-son relationships, the common philosophies were apparent but there was not always unanimity; the need for the Medicare system the most notable case in point.

The ups and downs of life as a federal backbencher, minister and leader are painted with brushstrokes lacking in abstraction. The reader receives honest details of John Howard, Tony Abbott, Peter Costello, Joe Hockey and particularly Malcolm Turnbull. Fans of Turnbull may alter their opinions in response to Nelson’s commentary. Unexpected and refreshing reminders of Neville Bonner, George W. Bush, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard underlie this autobiography’s authenticity.

One senses a crescendo when Nelson sets aside medicine and politics, turning attention to his diplomatic endeavours, as Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO. A frequent visitor to the Australian War Cemetery at Ieper in Belgium, Nelson forged a real connection with our nation’s military history, making his next career move both logical and passionate.

As though he had not achieved enough by the time his parliamentary career ended, Dr Nelson took on the head role at the Australian War Memorial (AWM), greatly expanding its reach, function and popularity. Within the pages of this book are stories of the AWM staff, the board, the visitors, the dignitaries and most importantly the fallen warriors that make the AWM such an extraordinary place. 

The final paragraphs of Of Life and of Leadership are contemplative and reflective, considering his unfinished business and tips for younger generations. He states his hopes for further reconciliation and recognition of Australia’s indigenous peoples. He then outlines his recipe for what makes a good politician. He shines light on Neville Bonner as an exemplar of both goals.

For those seeking a career as politicians or leaders, he distils management lectures into a list of essential attributes including: an open mind, humility, skills in public speaking, clear communication, self-reflection and self-belief. Nelson reminds us that leadership is learned, not taught, and that vision is what separates good leaders from common managers.

In what is more novel leadership advice, we are given two other principles:

Politics is one of the most powerful ways of effecting change. The best preparation for it is life. Join the political party that most aligns with your view of the world;

In driving change never lose sight of the conservative “traditionalists” … Once they are reassured you respect them and will build on those fundamentals, they will support you in building that future.

And so concludes the outer layer of this autobiography. The inner layers underpin all the wonderful stories and descriptions referred to above. Although understated and easily missed amongst the big names, big places and big events, Nelson gives us important insights into what animates him.

The dedications at the front of the book are to his wife, his parents and his children. Here he refers to intellect, sacrifice and unconditional love. The last dedication is perhaps cryptic: “The Jesuits. For others.”

A close reading of Of Life and of Leadership inexorably leads to the conclusion that the Jesuits left an indelible mark on Nelson: a cocktail of charity, erudition and non-conformism. Thankfully Nelson has kept the priorities in that order, unlike some notable Jesuits nowadays.

This explains why despite two failed marriages, Nelson fought on to build his third into a great success. And it is why despite leading the conservative side of politics, he extended great compassion and loyalty to his dying homosexual brother and kept Aboriginal recognition a major theme of his career.

In quoting a mysterious Father Bernhard Josef Philberth, Nelson unlocks what appear to be his internal contradictions:

Progress leads to chaos if not anchored in tradition. Tradition becomes rigid if it does not prepare the way for progress. But a perverted traditionalism and a misguided progressivism propel each other toward a deadly excess, hardly leaving any ground between them.

Fr Philberth was born in Germany and died in Melbourne. He was a physicist, philosopher, theologian, engineer and philanthropist. He and his brother Karl, also as priest, have over 100 patents attributed to them. The Philberths, like Nelson, never limited themselves; but all stuck to a certain way.

One cannot read this book without being inspired and impressed. Dr Nelson’s modesty and ever-changing work have resulted in a measure of undeserved obscurity in recent years. I believe he warrants inclusion in the echelon of the most important and remarkable living Australians.

Of Life and of Leadership
by Brendan Nelson
Connor Court, 2022, 504 pages, $59.95

Dr Aniello Iannuzzi is a doctor in rural New South Wales. He is the author of Being Human: For Human Beings (Fontaine Press, 2007)