An entire
history of Naarm, or Melbourne, could be written around the dichotomy of ‘respectable
and unrespectable’. Is John Batman, he of syphilitic nose, the founder? Hobart
did a Nelson with Batman, turning a blind eye to his illegal forays into Kulin
land. His crude treaties with owners, based on one-sided concepts of trade, may
be reduced to meaninglessness. Unrespectable Bearbrass becomes [respectable] Melbourne,
mellow in the mouth. The dichotomy is heard daily in a public discourse that
will be all things to all Melburnians. The common touch trades respect with
disrespect, gives with one hand, takes with the other.
