Kevin Rudd is a man of surprises.
Shortly before the third anniversary of his famous apology to indigenous Australians, he received word an Aboriginal woman he knew named ''Nana'' Lorna Fejo was gravely ill.
He'd first met Nana in early 2008 - a week before penning the landmark oration of his first term as prime minister.

Kevin Rudd: a man of surprises. Photo: Jay Cronan
He was now foreign minister, and a large framed photo of him with Nana adorned the wall of his office from that historic day. They'd last caught up in person, privately, on the second anniversary.
Advertisement
From his Blackberry, Rudd dialled her Darwin home. ''Hello Nana,'' he said. ''It's Kevin. I hear you're unwell.''
From across his desk, I heard Nana's loud and joyful response. Heaven knows what her reaction was to the flowers he sent afterwards.
As he wished Nana best for her recovery, I recall her parting plea: ''Please come back as prime minister.'' Two years on, Nana is still with us and now has her wish.
In his second prime ministership, Rudd's character has been seized on as an issue.
The Coalition has credible witnesses to bolster its attacks; the spliced words spoken by Labor ministers early last year.
Who could be more credible than politicians who knew him and worked with him? How about someone who knew him but doesn't have a political axe to grind?
For an enthralling year and a half when he was foreign minister, I saw Rudd at close quarters. I worked with him up to 15 hours a day. While I don't claim he's the messiah, the attack ads are just wrong. Australians ought to know the man for his strengths as well as his faults before we all vote. So here's the Kevin Rudd I know.
A workaholic? Absolutely. He has a greater capacity - and energy - for work than anyone I've known. But he's not a slave-driver. He made sure every one of his staff carved out proper time for their personal lives. He extended to us, and our loved ones, extraordinary generosity, hospitality, and kindness.
Consultative? I just don't get the claims he did not consult. His modus operandi was engagement and dialogue with every adviser from his team. He regularly talked with bureaucrats from government departments, with leaders from business and civil society. Policy wisdom for Rudd also resided with ''the people''. From a student on a university campus to a mother in a supermarket aisle, he listened attentively, often scribbling down notes.
Disorganised and chaotic? Not even close. Sound planning and strategic co-ordination was the order of each work day, though occasionally that was thrown by an earthquake rocking Japan or New Zealand, or the sudden tectonic shift of the Arab Spring.
An ego? You bet. Name me a successful person who hasn't got self-belief. For Rudd, it is his belief he can help frame a better tomorrow for Australians. He rightly believes our nation's bright future rests on the strength and depth of our connectedness to the world.
I saw such belief win the respect of many leaders behind closed doors, including on the day Ban Ki-moon visited Rudd at home.
Self-interested? Rudd's only interests were the needs of others, and particularly those living on the margins. Far from the cameras, and between a busy work schedule, it was edifying to see him carve out time to provide care and comfort to those who have no home. I saw this sort of encounter many times.
I vividly remember seeing him in Brisbane during the Queensland floods. As Rudd walked into a ruined home, standing alone and dazed in her lounge room was a lady named Patricia. She collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. He held Patricia tight. It was a graceful, tender moment.
We are who we are when no one is watching. When Australians were not watching these past few years, I saw Rudd's character and dedication to improving their lives.
So often, I witnessed the unreported Rudd. That included one of his many meetings with unemployed middle-aged men around the country seeking job guidance from a certain charity. They were often surprised to find themselves sitting in a room alone with the former PM, who could reassure them first-hand that only a lucky few go through life without losing their job.
Time and distance allow me to share an authentic perspective - some reassurance to the public who have never lost the belief that he is a good man who is at the top to help those who have always been far removed from the commanding heights.
Daniel Street is a former international aid adviser to Kevin Rudd.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/listening-caring-rudd-has-always-been-here-to-help-20130708-2pm8u.html#ixzz2YWUqHH9r

But does he take a  film crew everytime he shakes a blackfellas hand?
Coz Mr Abbott is winning that game hand down 

adelcrow wrote on Jul 9^th, 2013 at 3:34pm:

Whilst I would agree with you adlecrow that Tony pampers to the media, just like all politicans do, the one thing I think Tony is actually genuine about is reconciliation and improving indigenous relations.

You guys are having a lend of yourselves...  the media groupie here is Rudd...  he wins hands down ask anyone in the media 

Rudd and the aborigines 

Give me a break there is no other side he uses things and people for his own aggrandizement.

Abbott spends time each year living on the land with aboriginals helping them in real ways and gaining understanding of their problems and lives from the coalface so to speak.  He doesn't brag about it or big note himself.