The criticism of kevin rudd s government used to be that it was afraid of doing hard things. Harry joined the commonwealth public service in melbourne, and rose to become the commonwealth crown solicitor. Look back on 11 of his most memorable quotes about politics and life. He was the first of two children of harry fe whitlam and martha maddocks. Gough whitlam was australia s prime minister and a visionary who had ideas much ahead of his time. He was appointed australian ambassador to unesco a branch of the united nations that promotes education and culture. Our father, gough whitlam, has died this morning at the age of 98, mr whitlam s family said in a statement this morning. After learning of his dismissal, mr whitlam addressed the australian public and uttered a line that has resonated throughout australian politics since 1975. A moment in history is the first contemporary and definitive biographical study of the. A certain grandeur by graham freudenberg penguin books. Edward gough whitlam was born on 11 july 1916 at the family home ngara, 46 rowland street, kew, a suburb of melbourne, the elder of two children his sister, freda, was born four years after him, to martha nee maddocks and fred whitlam. He published several books, including the truth of the matter 1979 and abiding interests 1997. Gough whitlam, australian politician and lawyer who introduced a number of policy measures and social reforms as prime minister of australia 197275, but his troubled administration was cut short when he was dismissed by the governorgeneral.
A loving and generous father, he was a source of inspiration to us and our families and for millions of australians. Gough whitlam turned to graham freudenberg, touched him lightly on the shoulder, saying, it s been a long road, comrade, but were there, and walked out to meet the spotlight. To get these people to write about the whitlam government is a real tribute to troy bramston. The dismissal was the culmination of almost three years of political conflict, as whitlam s reforming labor government rammed home overdue legislative reforms in the face of implacable, and increasingly bitter, conservative opposition. Each year the whitlam institute asks australian young people in grades 512 what matters. Edward gough whitlam was born on july 11, 1916, in kew, victoria. This book draws upon the author s unprecedented access to archival material and interviews with family and colleagues and with gough himself. Why the queen s secret palace letters about gough whitlam should be released jenny hocking the longrunning case over the queen s secret correspondence on the 1975 dismissal is heading back to. This academic genius was able to set australia s future agenda for social policy, national identity, and foreign relations in his short three year reign. Truth of the matter by gough, whitlam, 9780522852127. The first volume of whitlam s biography, gough whitlam a moment in history, was shortlisted for the age book of the year, the queensland premier s literary awards and the prime minister s awards for literature 2009, longlisted for the walkley awards nonfiction book award 2009 and a finalist in the magarey medal for biography 2010. After less than three years in power the whitlam government had enacted 508 bills. Although his full name is edward gough whitlam he is always known by his second name, gough, which is pronounced goff.
The first contemporary biographical study of gough whitlam from his childhood in canberra, his extensive war service and marriage to margaret, this book draws upon the author s unprecedented access to archival material and. Gough whitlam is the author of the truth of the matter 3. The dismissal of the whitlam government november 11th, 1975. Discover book depository s huge selection of gough whitlam books online. Gough whitlam s speech during a debate at the sydney town hall, may 24, 2000. Public service runs in the whitlam genes newscomau. She also was gough whitlam s younger sister he telephoned her every sunday morning until shortly before his death in 2014 but she was her own woman. Words can be immensely powerful and, as you will discover in this clip, the way they are delivered can add to their.
The first volume of whitlam s biography, gough whitlam. His father, frederick whitlam, was a lawyer who worked in the office of attorney general robert menzies. She encouraged and sustained me and our four children, their families and many other people in a life full of engagement with. The album was a homage to gough, with whitlam on the cover and gough being one of its catchiest tunes. Equality of access to education was the fundamental principle behind each of. This article may require cleanup to meet wikipedia s quality standards. In her awardwinning biography of gough whitlam, jenny hocking revealed the astonishing secret story of the planning and the people behind the dismissal.
It was in this field that some of the whitlam government s most iconic reforms were enacted, including the abolition of university fees, the granting of state aid to independent schools, and the creation of the schools commission. He was the father of prime minister gough whitlam, and had a great influence on his son s values and interests. His labor party was elected after 23 years of government by the liberalcountry party coalition, and his government. The death of gough whitlam at age 98 has been announced. The government commenced when labor defeated the mcmahon government in the 1972 federal election after a. Gough whitlam 11 july 1916 21 october 2014 australian politician and 21st prime minister of australia 19721975 quotes. Never before released material from sir john kerr s private papers revealed the secret role of high.
Edward gough whitlam 11 july 1916 21 october 2014, known gough whitlam, was an australian politician. Passing a passion for service from one generation to the next is not unusual, but by any measure the accomplishments of margaret and gough whitlam s children reflect a. Acclaimed biographer jenny hocking s gough whitlam. The whitlam government 1972 1975 gough whitlam used paperback. His father was a federal public servant who later served as commonwealth crown solicitor, and whitlam senior s. Gough whitlam is perhaps best known for the manner in which he prematurely exited from power rather than how he chose to wield it. Graham freudenberg s inside account of gough whitlam s political rise and fall is one of the great classics of australian political writing. A moment in history, was shortlisted for the age book of the year, the queensland premier s literary awards and the prime minister s awards for literature 2009, longlisted for the walkley awards nonfiction book award 2009 and a finalist in the magarey medal for biography 2010. Searching for meaningful work for her younger sister with down syndrome, nipuni wijewickrema began her own floristry business. The page should only contain songs which have been specifically written about a city, per articles for deletion please help improve this article if you can. Harry frederick ernest fred whitlam 3 april 1884 8 december 1961 was australia s crown solicitor from 1936 to 1949, and a pioneer of international human rights law in australia. Gough whitlam prime minister of australia britannica. Gough whitlam born july 11, 1916 was leader of the australian labor party from 1967 1977 and the 21st prime minister of australia from 1972 until 1975.
The whitlam government was the federal executive government of australia led by prime minister gough whitlam. The first contemporary biographical study of gough whitlam from his childhood in canberra, his extensive war service and marriage to margaret. On the day he died i remember singing along to gough while walking my dog, with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes, thinking of the lost hopes and opportunities of the 1970s whitlam era. The whitlam government 19721975 by gough whitlam 1985 edition. Gough whitlam was a giant of his time and always colourful. Well may we say god save the queen, because nothing will save the governorgeneral. Gough whitlam is the only australian prime minister to have been sacked from office along with his entire government. On remembrance day, 1975, the governorgeneral of australia, sir john kerr, sacked the prime minister, gough whitlam. Edward gough whitlam s government was elected on december 2, 1972 and was the first labor administration in 23 years. It was made up of members of the australian labor party. Gough whitlam s election heralded a period of unprecedented reform in australia.
Former prime minister gough whitlam has died aged 98. But his period as prime minister is the country s most controversial to date. Acclaimed biographer jenny hocking s gough whitlam a moment in history is the first contemporary and definitive biographical study of the former labor prime minister. The proclamation which you have just heard read by the governorgeneral s official secretary was countersigned malcolm fraser, who will undoubtedly go down in australian. This moment was not his alone, nor could it ever have come about without himagough whitlam turned to graham freudenberg, touched him lightly on the shoulder, saying, it s been a long road, comrade, but were there, and walked out to meet the spotlight. Our father, gough whitlam, has died this morning at the age of 98, mr whitlam s children antony, nicholas and stephen whitlam and catherine dovey said in a statement this morning. Not limited to him personally butby extension to the government he led as prime minister of australia from 1972 to 1975 and the period of his incumbency as the leader of the australian labor party.
His father was a federal public servant who later served as commonwealth crown solicitor, and whitlam senior s involvement in human rights issues was a. Edward gough whitlam commonly known by his middle name, gough was born in kew, melbourne, on 11 july 1916. From now on, nobody will be able to write about the whitlam government without consulting the whitlam legacy. The university of western sydney is home to the whitlam institute, a research institution dedicated to whitlam. The dismissal of the whitlam government on november 11, 1975 was the most dramatic political event in the history of australia s federation.
31 807 1092 973 1657 1663 363 821 1424 649 914 1419 223 800 295 623 686 1169 1337 669 1540 1556 186 410 563 130 1312 1202 1308 404 122 1350 1234