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She dashed forwards through the crowd towards the amphitheatre.
There was an agreed plan: when we were seen approaching, the band would finish playing an item, and the bandmaster would hand over to me; I would introduce the Premier and welcome him to Manly.
Madam Mayor had other ideas.
She moved with amazing speed. Within a few seconds she had reached the microphone, abruptly stopped the band playing, and started on her welcoming speech to the Premier. All we could do was to wait for her to finish.
When I finaly got to the microphone, I also welcomed the Premier "to my electorate of Manly", but my thunder had been stolen by Thorburn, who had spoken as if Wran was a personal friend of hers.
Wran first addressed the kids in the school band, apologising for interupting their performance. He pulled a cheque for $4000 out of his pocket and presented it to a representitive of the North Side Big Band, which was composed of young people who had attended local schools. It was a contribution towards the cost of the Big Band attending the Monterey Jazz Festival in the United States.
He said how pleased he was to accept my inviation to visit Manly, and that he would be coming back frequently.