Former Gilmore MP Jo Gash, a friend of the most high-ranking MP to exit politics since Malcolm Turnbull, was sad to witness Deputy Prime Minister Julie Bishop's resignation in Parliament House on Thursday.
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To Cr Gash, Ms Bishop will be remembered as a great ambassador for Australia and for women.
"I was sorry to see her go, in my mind she still had a lot to give," Cr Gash said.
Ms Bishop's name was thrown into the ring at the last Liberal Party leadership challenge, when Scott Morrison was appointed.
"I feel personally, she would have made an excellent prime minister," Cr Gash said.
"It was not to be. She very loyal to previous prime ministers. I feel for her in that regard."
Cr Gash, in parliament from 1996 to 2013, forged a bond with Ms Bishop when she was elected in 1998.
"We have had two Bishops in parliament, and Bronwyn hosted a welcome dinner for Julie when she was elected, as she did for all women," Cr Gash said.
"We [women in politics] shared a great camaraderie in those days."
In those days?
"Yes, in those days."
Plainly things have changed since then in the view of Cr Gash, who is also a close confidant of exiting Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis.
Mrs Sudmalis was the first woman to embrace Ms Bishop after her resignation on Thursday, a woman admired by millions of Australians.
"What do I admire about Julie?" Cr Gash said.
"It was her ability to cut through the issue and find the solution, a win-win situation. She was one of the first ministers who could recite her policies backwards without notes. She had that wonderful stare if you dared cross her, it was quite strong. To her, everything was politics, she travelled the world, she was a great ambassador for Australia and for women."
Ms Bishop visited Gilmore many times in her career to support Cr Gash, and later, to support Mrs Sudmalis in her 2016 election campaign.
Cr Gash expects Ms Bishop to encourage other women to take her place.
"Ann has done the same thing, she's mentored young female MPs around the world," she said.
"I brought the first six women in to [Shoalhaven] council. To us, it’s important that women are given the opportunity to show what they can do."