By Christopher Harris,Nick Newling
Copyright smh
Not that there will be much talk of geopolitics inside the storied walls of its Elizabeth Street HQ. Other members of the exclusive club were quick to remind us of the rules. “You’re not meant to talk business”, he said. Best to stick to current affairs and other interests, we’re told.
That should be no trouble for Jones, who has a wife and two adult daughters. While he has an impressive list of military achievements, his official biography on the ADF website details a long list of personal hobbies including reading, fitness, team sport, watching musical theatre (South Pacific, perhaps?) and, occasionally, playing the drums.
We asked Jones, via the ADF’s media unit, whether he was enjoying the club since being gifted the membership in May, but received no response. Or in military parlance, radio silence.
Older members of the club may shudder [insert content warning here] to be reminded of the turbulent days of 2021, when they were asked to vote to decide if the club, founded in 1832, should open its membership base to women. There were 693 member votes cast, with 62 per cent against allowing women members, 37 per cent in favour, and 1 per cent abstaining. We’re told the issue of admitting women has not been resurfaced.
