"Gidday, My Name is Jim Bacon"
Trip Start
Mar 09, 2008
1
11
Trip End
Apr 11, 2008
Hobart,
Australia
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Jim Bacon was the Premier of Tasmania from 1998 to 2004. He was a member of the Labor Party and known for his liberal and often heavy-handed politics. Apparently Jim was quite a charater - a popular political figure and generally well-liked. A good bloke as they say here.
Though a good guy, he certainly was colorful and at times controversial. Jim was once a Maoist student leader. He was deeply involved in labour unions. As premier he brought casinos to Tasmania. His wife's name was Honey. And Jim was a smoker. Sadly, he was diagnosed with lung cancer in February of 2004 and passed shortly thereafter the same year. Before he died he did his best to educate people on the ills of smoking. A foundation was set up in his name to provide help to cancer patients.
So while I'm used to people greeting me in the States and asking me if I'm related to Kevin Bacon, I have now spent my entire 15 minutes of fame here in Tasmania as the former Premier of Tasmania. It's been a blast really. Everyone should be so lucky to have people greet you with a smile and laugh simply at the mention of your name!
I'm glad to have shared my name with this one.
