Gough and Me: My Journey from Cabramatta to China and beyond

by Christine Sykes

When Gough Whitlam moves into her street in Cabramatta in 1957, eight-year-old Christine has little idea how her new neighbour, one of the most visionary and polarising political leaders of Australia, would shape the direction of her life. Born to working-class parents and living in a fibro house built by her truck-driver father, Christine simply dreams that one day she might work as a private secretary like her aunt.   But when the reforms Whitlam championed give Christine the chance to go to university, her world expands. She experiences the transformative power of education, struggles to balance motherhood with being the family breadwinner, and faces her own mental health battles. She follows a path forged by Whitlam, from scholarships he fought for, to local community initiatives he generated, and even as far as China, where Whitlam crucially initiated Australia’s relationship when he visited the country in 1973.   Written with genuine heart and humour, Gough and Me is a nostalgic and deeply personal memoir of social mobility, cultural diversity, and the unprecedented opportunities that the Whitlam era gave one Australian working-class woman.

Genres: Memoir, Biography

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2021

Reviews

[Anna Loder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually a reread for me, I get to interview Christine Skyes soon so I wanted to deep dive into her overall themes and feelings…I love this memoir; the personal reflections of growing up in Sydney’s Cabramatta the 60s, the’ climbing mulberry trees and playing cricket in the street’ and that ‘extraordinary period in the history of women’s struggle for equality’. But this memoir also reflects on the inspirational Whitlam family that lived down the road, through practicalities, like agitating for a public pool but also ‘as a role model’. I loved this memoir and am so glad I got the chance to really ponder it

[Rania T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christina Sykes gives credit to Whitlam era reforms for her opportunity to see the world beyond her working-class roots in Sydney's West.

[Douglas Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the few books I have read where I wanted to contact the author to tell her about the way I felt when reading this story. It is an excellent read, funny, insightful, brutally honest and most importantly heart warming. It is an Australian story and one that should be celebrated. It is a more modern version of Hugh Lunn’s Over the Top With Jim or Jill Kerr Conway’s The Road From Coorain. I want my wife and daughter to read this wonderful memoir.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

No

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the content , but not the style.
Having been born one year before Christine, this was a "walk down memory lane" in a lot of respects - especially the early years. However the presentation was off-putting for me.
I admire what Gough did for Australia, I admire what Christine achieved, but just was disappointed with the telling of it.

When Gough Whitlam moves into her street in Cabramatta in 1957, eight-year-old Christine has little idea how her new neighbour, one of the most visionary and polarising political leaders of Australia, would shape the direction of her life. Born to working-class parents and living in a fibro house built by her truck-driver father, Christine simply dreams that one day she might work as a private secretary like her aunt. But when the reforms Whitlam championed give Christine the chance to go to university, her world expands. She experiences the transformative power of education, struggles to balance motherhood with being the family breadwinner, and faces her own mental health battles. She follows a path forged by Whitlam, from scholarships he fought for, to local community initiatives he generated, and even as far as China, where Whitlam crucially initiated Australia’s relationship when he visited the country in 1973. Written with genuine heart and humour, Gough and Me is a nostalgic and deeply personal memoir of social mobility, cultural diversity, and the unprecedented opportunities that the Whitlam era gave one Australian working-class woman.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a memoir of the author's life with the bulk of the book about her years growing up in the western Sydney suburb of Cabramatta and how the off chance that Gough and Christine Whitlam moved onto their street just a couple of blocks away. While unknown at the time, this proximity made a huge impact on the author's life, from friendship with their children, especially Stephen, but also in the encouragement given to the author in brief visits in the Whitlam family home. The author wound up being one of many Australians who benefited greatly in government programs initiated by Gough while he was in opposition and later as Prime Minister, especially in regards to education for girls and women. Ms Sykes was able to be the first in her family to attend university and get a degree, took a teaching position and later moved into social work helping the migrant families relocating to the western suburbs where she grew up. Her working class father and mother were also big influences in her life. I found this to be a wonderful look at how life was like in suburban Australia in the 1950's and 60's.

[D.A. Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Gough and Me for many reasons. I'm a Labour man and I'm really interested in politics so this insider's view of the Whitlam family when they moved to Cabramatta is southwestern Sydney was fascinating, but beyond Gough was the authors long and successful career in the public service which she shares with candour. In fact, candour is a key word. Gough and Me is honest without being overly sentimental or excruciatingly self reflective. That's the second thing I loved about the book. I also found it really interesting to read about the life and career of a contemporary of my mother: a woman with a completely different outlook on and trajectory through life.There was so much culture and history to which I related as well.

Gough and Me was a comfortable and inspiring journey through a life well lived. Warm, honest, funny and relatable.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book interested me as a person who grew up in the Whitlam era and reminded me of working on his election campaign before I was old enough to vote, the voting age then was 21. The great man pulled up in a borrowed Mercedes at the polling booth in his electorate on a stinking hot day and asked me: "Could you use a chicken sandwich and an orange juice Comrade?" Gough calling me Comrade was enough to keep me working on election campaigns to this day and I plan to be doing the same thing again next year.
The book isn't a literary masterpiece by any means, just a simply told story of one woman's life, changed by the fortuitous accident of having someone like Gough move into her street as a child and then benefitting from the social changes made under his leadership. Worth reading.

[Cindee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an extraordinary journey led by fellow Cabramatta native, Christine Sykes. Our lives would have just missed each other in Cabramatta - she moved to Canberra for work just as I was born. She's led a remarkable life in the Australian public service, even pioneering the first of its kind community services in Cabramatta.

It was incredible to live through a past Cabramatta through her eyes. She had only met Gough Whitlam a handful of times but her life was directly impacted by, and benefited from, so many of Whitlam's policies and what his government initiated. Some of which I still benefit from today.

[Catherine Lutvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christine’s life story was inspiring and interesting to read. I enjoyed the way she cleverly referred to Gough Whitlam’s influence on her life which took me on a journey of Australian political history. I loved learning a bit more about Gough’s story too. She reflected on and described Australian and global social and political circumstances and how they impacted on her life choices and experiences at the time. Christine’s writing captured her core values, beliefs and interests and how they shaped her personal and professional life. I loved this memoir.

[Bec · Rating 3 out of 5]

"What's important is to make the most of what you've got"

I had high expectations for this book, but it was very stilted and at times hard to read. I think a more engaging writing style would have helped bring the story to life more instead of I did this, then I did that format

[Ita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such and interesting memoir: personal, honest and I also learned about Australian politics and issues from the 50s to now. I'm looking forward to meeting Christine next week when she comes for an author tour of 6 of the Central Northern Regional Library branches.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed it because it was exactly parallel with my life in so many ways and so familiar. The early part seemed not so well written as later. Not well edited. Very open and honest.

[Denita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read in the fact that it was autobiographical as well as pieces of political history thrown in the mix. The author has had a very interesting working life indeed.

[Ann Koenig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting times but I thought she mentioned the Whitlams sometimes when it seemed irrelevant

[Brendan Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very open autobiographical book that does return to the theme about the significance that the Whitlams had on her life. It resonates Gough's philosophy of having the opportunity for advancement.

[Jenny Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always liked Gough but learnt a lot more about his achievements. Learnt about politics in my lifetime. Author got a few things wrong but really enjoyed reading about my lifetime.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It never stops being time