Series 02: Alan Gibson Stewart papers, 1987-1989 - Page 325
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put my coat on, they had moved away, with the crowd which was starting to gather around Grassby.
NIght was falling, and the time had come for us to proceed to the arena for the formal speeches, which would be followed by a concert and fireworks.
The problem was to get Grassby through the enthusiastic mob of Italians, who were pressing in on him from all sides.
At last we reached the reserved seats on the turf in front of the specially built stage. Behind us, thousands of excited Italians looked down from the huge grandstand, which normally seated football fans. Many others milled around the grounds. The total crowd at the festival was estimated to be more than ten thousand, drawn from all over Sydney and beyond.
Four official guests were to speak in turn: Michael MacKellar, the Federal Member for Warringah (a Liberal) who was Minister for Immigration; then Gavin Anderson, President of Warringah Shire; myself, representing the Premier of N.S.W.; and last, as a special treat, would come Grassby.
Each speaker was introduced in both English and Italian by the compere. It was then necessary to move quickly across the grass to the side of the stage, climb some steep steps, walk past the band, and find the microphone. Mackellar completed his task with professional ease. He spoke briefly and reassuringly