The spirit of Australia

Their Excellencies David and Linda Hurley were heartbroken they couldn’t see their grandchildren for much of 2021. But when the lockdowns finally ended, they invited The Weekly along to a very happy family reunion.

- SAMANTHA TRENOWETH  

The Governor-General of Australia lifts two-year-old Charlie onto a chair so he can survey the many platters of cakes and biscuits laid out for afternoon tea on the dining table at Admiralty House. “Which are you going to choose?” the doting grandpa asks young Charlie, who hesitates, his eyes as wide as saucers. But then he grins and begins the painstaking task of choosing the best one. First he nibbles a lamington. Perhaps not; he passes the uneaten portion to grandpa, who finishes it off. A shortbread? A chocolate slice? Something that looks delicious with jam in the middle? Before long the Governor-General and Charlie have polished off at least half a dozen biscuits and are both looking pretty pleased with themselves. It brings to mind one of the Hurley family’s favourite children’s books, Possum Magic. If only there was a vegemite sandwich.

“I love Charlie. He’s such a character,” the proud grandfather tells The Weekly later that afternoon as we sit in his harbourside study, reflecting on an extraordinary year. “At the moment, I just enjoy watching him wander, to see what’s interesting in his life.” There’s reconstruction work underway at Admiralty House, down by the Sydney waterfront. “He sat down the other day and watched that digger for half an hour, and he talked about it. We didn’t see Charlie for four months during the lockdown and in that time, he developed a vocabulary.”

Charlie’s new conversational skill wasn’t the only major development in the Hurley family while its members were separated by the pandemic. While the senior Hurleys were confined to Canberra, their first granddaughter, Sabrina, was born to their middle child Marcus and his wife Rosanna in Sydney last August.