Gough Whitlam Was Australia
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7/29/2019 Gough Whitlam Was Australia http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/gough-whitlam-was-australia 1/2 Gough Whitlam was Australia’s 21'st Prime Minister who led from 1972 to 1975. He was a charismatic leader who brought great change to Australia but he is also remembered fro being sacked from his job as Prime Minister by government general, john Kerr.Edward Gough Whitlam was born in Melbourne in 1916, the eldest of two children. His mother, a smart, witty woman who was almost deaf so Gough learnt to speak slowly and clearly. Gough’s father was a serious and religious man who cared about people and taught Gough the importance of justice and fairness. Even though the Whitlam's were wealthy they wasted nothing and didn’t have a car, television or even a radio. What they did have was plenty of books.Gough loved reading - especially books about his hero Napoleon, a past emperor of France and leader of huge armies. When Gough was eleven years old they moved to Canberra. Canberra’s ordered development had a big impact on Gough’s thinking. That’s why when he became leader, he emphasized things like education, health, cities etc At high school Gough was sensitive and didn’t make friends easily. He was often teased because he was tall - so he learnt to use his tongue as a whip. He could talk himself out of almost any situation. At eighteen years of age, Gough went to the University of Sydney to study history and law. He loved debating and acting. One student who shared Gough’s love of acting was Margaret Dove who became his wife. Together they raised four children. In 1941, Gough enlisted with the R-double A-F and became a navigator in Number Thirteen Squadron - the Devil’s Brothers - patrolling north of Australia and striking Japanese ships and bases in World War Two.The war had a big impact on Gough. It made him think about politics and he became a great supporter of Prime Minister John Curtin of the Labor party who led Australia throughout the war.When the war ended Gough joined the Labor Party. In 1952, when he was thirty-six, he won a seat in the House of Representatives. Gough commanded respect - he had an air of superiority, a quick mind and was a witty speaker. In only eight years he rose to Deputy Leader of the Labor Party.By 1967, Gough was the party’s leader and set about winning the next election. As Australia entered the seventies a new generation of voters wanted change.They saw Gough Whitlam as young, modern and in tune with the time In December 1972, Gough Whitlam became the first Labor Prime Minister for twenty-three years.Almost immediately Prime Minister Whitlam began his program to create a new Australia. He ended conscription, increased funding to pensioners, migrants, women and Aborigines as well as the arts, heritage, housing and education/ It was a time of excitement, drama and excess but within two years people began to wonder if Australia could pay for all the changes. When the Liberals blocked the Budget, Gough Whitlam’s government was starved of the money it needed to run the country. Gough refused to call a general election and a deadlock resulted. So on the eleventh of November 1975, the Governor General, Sir John Kerr dismissed Gough Whitlam and appointed Malcolm Fraser as care-taker Prime Minister. Australia erupted in shock and disbelief. But in an election in December, Labor lost in a victory to the Liberal party.
Transcript of Gough Whitlam Was Australia
7/29/2019 Gough Whitlam Was Australia
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/gough-whitlam-was-australia 1/2
Gough Whitlam was Australia’s 21'st Prime Minister who led from 1972 to 1975. He was a charismatic leader who brought great change to Australia but he is also remembered fro being
sacked from his job as Prime Minister by government general, john Kerr.Edward Gough Whitlam wasborn in Melbourne in 1916, the eldest of two children. His mother, a smart, witty woman who was almostdeaf so Gough learnt to speak slowly and clearly. Gough’s father was a serious and religious man who
cared about people and taught Gough the importance of justice and fairness.
Even though the Whitlam's were wealthy they wasted nothing and didn’t have a car, television or even aradio. What they did have was plenty of books.Gough loved reading - especially books about his heroNapoleon, a past emperor of France and leader of huge armies. When Gough was eleven years old they moved to Canberra. Canberra’s ordered development had a bigimpact on Gough’s thinking. That’s why when he became leader, he emphasized things like education,health, cities etc At high school Gough was sensitive and didn’t make friends easily. He was often teased because he wastall - so he learnt to use his tongue as a whip. He could talk himself out of almost any situation. Ateighteen years of age, Gough went to the University of Sydney to study history and law. He loved
debating and acting. One student who shared Gough’s love of acting was Margaret Dove who becamehis wife. Together they raised four children. In 1941, Gough enlisted with the R-double A-F and became a navigator in Number Thirteen Squadron -
the Devil’s Brothers - patrolling north of Australia and striking Japanese ships and bases in World War Two.The war had a big impact on Gough. It made him think about politics and he became a greatsupporter of Prime Minister John Curtin of the Labor party who led Australia throughout the war.Whenthe war ended Gough joined the Labor Party. In 1952, when he was thirty-six, he won a seat in the House of Representatives. Gough commanded
respect - he had an air of superiority, a quick mind and was a witty speaker. In only eight years he rose toDeputy Leader of the Labor Party.By 1967, Gough was the party’s leader and set about winning the nextelection. As Australia entered the seventies a new generation of voters wanted change.They saw Gough Whitlamas young, modern and in tune with the time In December 1972, Gough Whitlam became the first Labor Prime Minister for twenty-three years.Almost immediately Prime Minister Whitlam began his program tocreate a new Australia. He ended conscription, increased funding to pensioners, migrants, women and Aborigines as well as the
arts, heritage, housing and education/ It was a time of excitement, drama and excess but within two yearspeople began to wonder if Australia could pay for all the changes. When the Liberals blocked the Budget, Gough Whitlam’s government was starved of the money itneeded to run the country. Gough refused to call a general election and a deadlock resulted. So on the eleventh of November 1975, the Governor General, Sir John Kerr dismissed Gough Whitlam
and appointed Malcolm Fraser as care-taker Prime Minister. Australia erupted in shock and disbelief. But in an election in December, Labor lost in a victory to the Liberal party.
7/29/2019 Gough Whitlam Was Australia
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Gough Whitlam continued as Labor Party leader but retired from the position in 1977. Since then he has campaigned for human rights, the environment and international issues.
Gough Whitlam changed Australia into what it is now.
