The stories of comic book super heroes have been ridiculously exaggerated by the boundless imagination of Hollywood. While junior colony Melbourne had their own historic founder named “Batman”, Parramatta’s 19th century super man lived a life overcoming apparent insurmountable odds. (A monumental effort from a bronzed Aussie, 3/11). For Irish Catholic James Martin to become NSW premier thrice, then Chief Justice while married to a convict’s daughter highlights the amazing Sydney ethos of which we should still be proud. Setting aside unconscious bigotry to embrace greatness imbues NSW culture with the fair go mentality. It is a dark shadow of Victorian history that a similar human decency was never shown to General John Monash after World War I. The Martin Place statue says as much about wonderful Sydney people as about the man. Parramatta once had a great champion. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 4Nov2020.