Old Ex-President dies. And?

Can anyone explain to me why the death of Gerald Ford is so significant in Australia? It's been prominent on all the TV News bulletins here including those on Channels 7,9 and 10 which usually feature little or no news outside of greater Melbourne. So what if an old, ex-one term US president has died??? - what has that to do with Australia exactly? It should merely merit a brief mention at the end of the news along with an update on Moggy the cat in Coburg who is still stuck up a tree. As the US slowly takes over the world, its news is becoming our news. Joy.