Pig Iron

A walking path around the lake in central Canberra has been named the RG Menzies Walk, in recognition of Menzies’ role in the development of Canberra as the national capital. Sir Robert Menzies was Australia's longest serving Prime Minister, from 1939 to 1941 and 1949 to 1966. Menzies was a proud anglophile and once described himself as 'British to my bootstraps'. I thought it fitting to capture his statue with, in the background, the National Carillon which was a gift to Australia from the UK to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Canberra as the national capital. 

Menzies was given the nickname Pig Iron Bob for his role in a waterfront dispute in 1938. At the time he was Attorney-General. The dispute centred on wharf workers refusal to load pig iron bound for Japan, due to concern at Japan's military occupation of and violent actions in parts of China. Menzies favoured the export.