All around the world people are saying they want change.

The vagueness of what that change might be has political advantages. It can also be a millstone, as the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, who was elected on the one-word promise is finding.

Real change, as my 94-year-old father, Noel, has found out though a lifetime of advocating for women to be become Lutheran pastors, takes time.

On Monday he will be awarded an OAM in the King’s birthday honours list for services to the Lutheran and Uniting churches.

Social change that endures requires patient explanation and persuasion, navigating processes and systems, knowing when to pull back and when to push forward.

The truth is that the forces of the status quo will fight tooth and nail to obstruct, delay and undermine change, especially if it is designed to improve human rights and equity. Change that makes a buck comes more quickly.

Princeton historian Linda Colley concluded that despite occasional exceptions, most change that lasts takes three score years and 10 – a lifetime.

Think of the big changes that have made modern Australia: removing the white Australia policy, three score years and 12, giving First Nations people the right to vote, three score years and two, making their voting compulsory as for other citizens, and legislating women’s equal rights, nearly four score years.

Eight years ago,........

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