IT ended in tears as Premier Peter Beattie, with just minutes left as leader of Queensland, strode out of the Executive Building about 9.45am yesterday
He lost his normal composure in front of the cameras.
The sight of his loyal staff, formed in a guard of honour through the foyer, was just too much for the boss.
"I don't think I've cried in public before," Mr Beattie said.
"When you see people you really respect and admire, that is very emotional."
The end was getting closer but the Premier was not done yet. The keys to power had to be handed back at Government House, Paddington, before his successor, Anna Bligh, and the future arrived later.
Mr Beattie's government car – driven by his driver Bruce Cousar since 1995 – rolled in at exactly 10am to find a woman at the front gate with a sign: "Thanks, Pete."
NOTE*At this point he wound his car window down, looked at me and said, "Thanks, thanks very much" which also went to air on tv, and I said to hubby, "he was speaking to me then" heheheh
"You're looking as charming as normal," Mr Beattie said to his (mostly) beloved parliamentary press gallery as wife Heather escorted him inside to resign officially to Governor Quentin Bryce.
His power removed, the member for Brisbane Central and his wife waltzed down the front drive for the Beattie Finale, his final press call.
"The king is dead, long live the queen," the now former premier chortled, adding another line to The Bible of Beattie Speak.
"Thank you, Queensland. I love you all."
Mr Cousar, meanwhile, already had the engine purring for one last spin with the boss.
"He was a bit cut this morning," Mr Cousar said. "We'll go wherever he wants to go."
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