IT was a full house at the National Press Club for the address you have when you’re not actually having an address.

And the reason for that is that Tony Abbott has yet to fulfill the invitation as Prime Minister to stand and deliver at that famous podium.

But for an anniversary as significant as that of the then PM Sir Robert Menzies’ address to the fledgling National Press Club 50 years ago – give or take a few days – Abbott performed in his most statesmanlike way, meeting the parents of Peter Greste who had just flown back from Cairo to be there as special guests of a concerned press corps, dined finely in good company, worked the room for the ubiquitous selfies, a few handshakes, kisses and hugs, and enjoyed the sublime trumpeting of James Morrison and his superb songstress Hetty Kate before scarpering, quick as a wink, off to another event – or to bunk in early at the Police College to get over accumulated jetlag.

The guests were in fine form and represented an eclectic mix of Canberra’s press, business and Liberals with special guests, those who’ve made this club a resounding success.