What kind of country doesn’t remember the name of its first prime minister?

On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Professor David Headon AM to reveal the fascinating story of Sir Edmund Barton. The cricket-mad ‘tosspot’ who found the vision and drive to spearhead Australia’s federation movement.

Dr David Headon is a cultural consultant and historian. Formerly Director of the Centre for Australian Cultural Studies, Cultural Adviser to the National Capital Authority and History and Heritage Adviser for the Centenary of Canberra, he is now a Foundation Fellow at the Australian Studies Institute (ANU), a Parliamentary Library Associate and the Canberra Raiders club historian. He is currently overseeing the First Eight Project, which aims to enliven interest in our nation’s earliest political leaders.