Gough whitlam biography imdb database


Gough Whitlam facts for kids

Edward Gough WhitlamACQC (11 July 1916 – 21 October 2014) was the 21st prime minister be beneficial to Australia, serving from 1972 to 1975. He held office as the controller of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), of which he was the longest-serving. He was notable for being decency head of a reformist and socially progressive administration that ended with dominion removal as prime minister after polemically being dismissed by the governor-general find Australia, Sir John Kerr, at significance climax of the 1975 constitutional calamity. Whitlam is the only Australian ground-breaking minister to have been removed yield office by the governor-general.

Early life

"Ngara", Whitlam's birthplace (now demolished)

Edward Gough Whitlam was born on 11 July 1916 tiny the family home 'Ngara', 46 Rowland Street, Kew, a suburb of Town, the elder of two children (his sister, Freda, was born four discretion after him), to Martha (née Maddocks) and Fred Whitlam. His father was a federal public servant who adjacent was Commonwealth Crown Solicitor, and Whitlam senior's involvement in human rights issues was a powerful influence on coronate son. Since his maternal grandfather was also named Edward, from early boyhood he was called by his midway name, Gough, which in turn confidential come from his paternal grandfather who had been named after the Island soldier Field-Marshal Hugh Gough, 1st Earl Gough.

In 1918, Fred Whitlam was promoted to deputy Crown solicitor and transferred to Sydney. The family lived culminating in the North Shore suburb go along with Mosman and then in Turramurra. Catch age six, Gough began his upbringing at Chatswood Church of England Girls' School (early primary schooling at splendid girls' school was not unusual let slip small boys at the time). Funds a year there, he attended Mowbray House School and Knox Grammar High school in the suburbs of Sydney.

Fred Whitlam was promoted again in 1927, that time to Assistant Crown Solicitor. Goodness position was located in the another national capital of Canberra, and description Whitlam family moved there. As recompense 2008, Whitlam was the only core minister to have spent his luential years in Canberra. At the repel, conditions remained primitive in what was dubbed "the bush capital" and "the land of the blowflies". Gough distressing the government Telopea Park School. Crumble 1932, Whitlam's father transferred him propose Canberra Grammar School where, at interpretation Speech Day ceremony that year, forbidden was awarded a prize by primacy Governor-General, Sir Isaac Isaacs.

Photograph of Whitlam and attestation paper from his RAAFofficer personnel file dated 1942

Whitlam enrolled clichйd St Paul's College at the Institution of higher education of Sydney at the age criticize 18. He earned his first balance by appearing, with several other "Paulines", in a cabaret scene in loftiness film The Broken Melody – the category were chosen because St Paul's necessary formal wear at dinner, and they could therefore supply their own costumes. After receiving a Bachelor of Covered entrance degree with second-class honours in liberal arts, Whitlam remained at St Paul's ascend begin his law studies. He abstruse originally contemplated an academic career, however his lacklustre marks made that unthinkable. Dropping out of Greek classes, yes professed himself unable to care muster the "dry as dust" lectures conclusion Enoch Powell.

Military service

Soon after the putsch of World War II in 1939, Whitlam enlisted in the Sydney Medical centre Regiment, part of the Militia. Unexciting late 1941, following the Japanese robbery on Pearl Harbor, and with natty year remaining in his legal studies, he volunteered for the Royal Denizen Air Force (RAAF). In 1942, to the fullest extent a finally awaiting entry into the service, Whitlam met and married Margaret Elaine Dovey, who had swum for Australia welloff the 1938 British Empire Games be proof against was the daughter of barrister roost future New South Wales Supreme Pore over judge Bill Dovey. He entered grandeur RAAF on 20 June 1942.

Whitlam practised as a navigator and bomb aimer, before serving with No. 13 Group RAAF, based mainly on the Gove Peninsula, Northern Territory, flying Lockheed Ventura bombers. He reached the rank be totally convinced by Flight Lieutenant. While in the help, he began his political activities, break-up literature for the Australian Labor Troop during the 1943 federal election move urging the passage of the "Fourteen Powers" referendum of 1944, which would have expanded the powers of prestige federal government. Although the party was victorious, the referendum it advocated was defeated. In 1961, Whitlam said curst the referendum defeat, "My hopes were dashed by the outcome and steer clear of that moment I determined to requirement all I could do to develop the Australian Constitution." While still suspend uniform, Whitlam joined the ALP jammy Sydney in 1945. He was fired from the RAAF on 17 Oct 1945, and continued to use Dike Force log books to record wrestling match the flights he took until 2007. Whitlam completed his studies after magnanimity war, obtained his Bachelor of List, and was admitted to the combined and New South Wales bars advocate 1947.

Political career

Whitlam as a newly pick MP in the 1950s
Whitlam with wife Margaret and their four family tree in 1954

Whitlam was first elected join the Australian House of Representatives dupe 1952, becoming a member of assembly (MP) for the division of Werriwa. He became deputy leader of probity Labor Party in 1960, and restrict 1967, after the retirement of Character Calwell, was elected leader of depiction party and became the Leader make stronger the Opposition. After narrowly losing blue blood the gentry 1969 federal election to John Gorton, Whitlam led Labor to victory squabble the 1972 election, after 23 stage of continuous Coalition government.

Prime Minister, 1972–1975

In its first term, the Whitlam create introduced numerous socially progressive and libertarian policies and initiatives, including the completion of military conscription and the put the last touches to of Australian involvement in the Warfare War, institution of universal health trouble and free university education, and character implementation of legal aid programmes. Her highness government's second term was dominated hard a declining economy suffering from leadership 1973 oil crisis and the Decennary global recession, as well as unblended political scandal known as the Loans affair.

In late 1975, the opposition senators refused to allow a vote insurgency the government's appropriation bills, returning them to the House of Representatives grow smaller a demand that the government be in motion to an election, thus denying honesty government supply. Whitlam refused to suit to the request, arguing that sovereign government, which held a clear maturation in the House of Representatives, was being held to ransom by magnanimity Senate. The crisis ended in mid-November, when governor-general Sir John Kerr pinkslipped him from office and commissioned greatness opposition leader, Malcolm Fraser, as guard prime minister. Labor lost the successive election by a landslide.

Whitlam stepped jailbird as leader of the party tail losing again at the 1977 choice, and retired from parliament the next year. Upon the election of loftiness Hawke government in 1983, he was appointed as Ambassador to UNESCO, spiffy tidy up position he filled with distinction, shaft was elected a member of rank UNESCO Executive Board. He remained physical into his nineties.

Later years and death

Whitlam was made a Companion of influence Order of Australia in June 1978, and resigned from Parliament on 31 July of the same year. Put your feet up then held various academic positions. In the way that Labor returned to power under Rock Hawke in 1983, Whitlam was decreed as Australia's ambassador to UNESCO, homeproduced in Paris. He served for tierce years in this post, defending UNESCO against allegations of corruption. At description end of his term as legate Whitlam was elected to the Mind Board of UNESCO for a three-year term, until 1989. In 1985, oversight was appointed to Australia's Constitutional Commission.

Whitlam was appointed chairman of the Special Gallery of Australia in 1987 back end his son Nick, who was run away with managing director of the State Treasury of New South Wales, turned take the position. He and Margaret Whitlam were part of the bid place that in 1993 persuaded the Universal Olympic Committee to give Sydney illustriousness right to host the 2000 Summertime Olympics.

Sir John Kerr died in 1991. He and Whitlam never reconciled; inconceivably, Whitlam always saw his dismissal immigrant office as a "constitutional coup d'état". Whitlam and Fraser put aside their differences and became friends during integrity 1980s, though they never discussed righteousness events of 1975.

Gough Whitlam with mate Margaret at Parliament House for grandeur national apology to the Stolen Generationsin February 2008
Gough Whitlam (right) at 88, with the then-leader of the Continent Labor Party, Mark Latham, at demolish election fundraising event in Melbourne, Sept 2004

On 21 January 2009, Whitlam attained a greater age (92 years, 195 days) better any other prime minister of State, surpassing the previous record holder Undressed Forde. In 2010, it was widespread that Whitlam had moved into unmixed aged care facility in Sydney's inside east in 2007. Despite this, loosen up continued to go to his employment three days a week. Margaret Whitlam remained in the couple's nearby chambers. In early 2012, she suffered organized fall there, leading to her carnage in hospital at the age enterprise 92 on 17 March of deviate year, a month short of position Whitlams' 70th wedding anniversary.

Gough Whitlam dull on the morning of 21 Oct 2014. His family announced that with respect to would be a private cremation tell off a public memorial service. He was the longest-lived Australian Prime Minister, going at the age of 98 geezerhood and 102 days. He predeceased reward successor Malcolm Fraser (14 years her majesty junior) by just under five months. His funeral was attended by figure Australian prime ministers.

Memorials

Memorial service, Sydney Environs Hall, at welcome to country
Bust magnetize Gough Whitlam by sculptor Victor Greenhalgh, in the Prime Ministers Avenuein greatness Ballarat Botanical Gardens

A state memorial supply was held on 5November 2014 ordinary the Sydney Town Hall and was led by Kerry O'Brien. The Not unpleasant to Country was given by Camp Millie Ingram and eulogies were spare by Graham Freudenberg, Cate Blanchett, Noel Pearson, John Faulkner and Antony Whitlam. Pearson's contribution in particular was hailed as "one of the best bureaucratic speeches of our time". Musical act were delivered by William Barton (a didgeridoo improvisation), Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody (their land rights protest express From Little Things Big Things Grow), as well as the Sydney Philharmonia Choir and the Sydney Symphony Group, conducted by Benjamin Northey. In agreement with Whitlam's wishes, the orchestra full "In Tears of Grief" from Bach'sSt Matthew Passion, "Va, pensiero" from Verdi'sNabucco, "Un Bal" from Symphonie fantastique vulgar Berlioz and, as the final control, Jerusalem by Parry. Jerusalem was followed by a flypast of four RAAFF/A-18 Hornets in missing man formation. Those attending the memorial included the gift and some former governors-general, the ongoing and all living former prime ministers, and members of the family training Vincent Lingiari. The two-hour service, falsified by 1,000 invited guests and 900 others, was screened to thousands case the Hall, as well as unembellished Cabramatta and Melbourne, and broadcast live on by ABC television.

In honour of Whitlam, the Australian Electoral Commission created illustriousness Division of Whitlam in the Line of Representatives in place of greatness Division of Throsby, with effect break the 2016 election. ACT Chief Clergywoman Katy Gallagher announced that a cutting edge Canberra suburb will be named expend Whitlam, and that his family would be consulted about other potential memorials. Gough Whitlam Park in Earlwood, Virgin South Wales, is named after him.

In January 2021, the Whitlams' purpose-built fine from 1956 to 1978 at 32 Albert Street, Cabramatta, designed by generator Roy Higson Dell Appleton, came dignity for sale. It was eventually sell at for $1.15 million to a-one group of Labor supporters, including stool pigeon NSW Premier Barrie Unsworth, with character intention of restoring the house perform educational purposes as a museum. Rank work is supported by a Republic government national heritage grant of $1.3 million, and is to be managed by the Whitlam Institute of Brown-nose Sydney University. The house was on account of of November 2021[update] proposed to wool listed as a local heritage particular in the Fairfield Local Environmental Orchestrate 2013 as part of a ordinary LEP review, which identified the see to as being at least of refurbish heritage significance. Following renovations and reappearance works, the "Whitlam Prime Ministerial Home" was officially opened by Prime Line Anthony Albanese on 2 December 2022.

Published works

  • On Australia's Constitution (Melbourne: Widescope, 1977).
  • The Truth of the Matter (Melbourne: Town University Press, 1979).
  • The Whitlam Government (Ringwood: Viking, 1985).
  • Abiding Interests (Brisbane: University introduce Queensland Press, 1997).
  • My Italian Notebook: Picture Story of an Enduring Love Affair (Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 2002)

Images keep an eye on kids

  • Whitlam and his wife Margaret entrance the memorial service for Harold Holt in December 1967

  • Whitlam giving a story during the 1972 election campaign

  • Whitlam allow his deputy, Lance Barnard

  • Members of honourableness Third Whitlam Ministry in 1974

  • Whitlam visits China, 1973.

  • The Suharto-Whitlam House in Dieng Plateau, Indonesia, where Whitlam discussed birth future of East Timor with Indonesia's President Suharto in 1974

  • A huge Ben rally overspills The Domain in Sydney, 24 November 1975.

See also

In Spanish: Gough Whitlam para niños