1.
1962
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January 1 Western Samoa became independent from New Zealand. The United States Navy SEALs, elite special forces, are activated, SEAL Team One is commissioned in the Pacific Fleet and SEAL Team Two in the Atlantic Fleet. The Beatles audition for Decca Records but are rejected, NBC introduces the Laramie peacock before a midnight showing of the series Laramie in the United States. January 2 – NAACP Executive Secretary Roy Wilkins praises U. S. President John F. Kennedys personal role in advancing civil rights, january 3 – Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro. January 4 – New York City introduces a train that operates without a crew on board. January 5 – The first album on which The Beatles play, My Bonnie, credited to Tony Sheridan, january 8 – Harmelen train disaster,93 die in the worst Dutch rail disaster. January 9 – Cuba and the Soviet Union sign a trade pact, january 10 – An avalanche on Nevado Huascarán in Peru causes 4,000 deaths. January 12 – The Indonesian Army confirms that it has operations in West Irian. January 13 – Albania allies itself with the Peoples Republic of China, january 15 – Portugal abandons the U. N. General Assembly due to the debate over Angola. January 16 – A military coup occurs in the Dominican Republic, january 19 – A counter-coup occurs in the Dominican Republic, the old government returns except for the new president Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly. January 22 – The Organization of American States suspends Cubas membership, the suspension is lifted in 2009. January 24 The East German government readopts conscription, the Organisation armée secrète bombs the French Foreign Ministry. January 26 – Ranger 3 is launched to study the Moon, january 27 – The Soviet government changed all place names honoring Molotov, Kaganovich and Georgy Malenkov. January 30 – Two of the high-wire Flying Wallendas are killed, january – Stena Line established as a ferry operator by Sten A. Olsson in Gothenburg, Sweden. February 3 – The United States embargo against Cuba is announced, february 4 – The Sunday Times in the United Kingdom became the first paper to print a colour supplement. February 4–February 5 – During a new moon and solar eclipse, february 5 – French President Charles de Gaulle calls for Algeria to be granted independence. February 6 – Negotiations between U. S. Steel and the United States Department of Commerce begin, february 7 The United States embargo against Cuba comes into effect, prohibiting all U. S. -related Cuban imports and exports. Luisenthal Mine Disaster, A coal mine explosion in Saarland, West Germany kills 299, february 9 – The Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation opens
2.
Australia
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Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It is the worlds sixth-largest country by total area, the neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor to the north, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east, and New Zealand to the south-east. Australias capital is Canberra, and its largest urban area is Sydney, for about 50,000 years before the first British settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who spoke languages classifiable into roughly 250 groups. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades, and by the 1850s most of the continent had been explored, on 1 January 1901, the six colonies federated, forming the Commonwealth of Australia. Australia has since maintained a liberal democratic political system that functions as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy comprising six states. The population of 24 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard, Australia has the worlds 13th-largest economy and ninth-highest per capita income. With the second-highest human development index globally, the country highly in quality of life, health, education, economic freedom. The name Australia is derived from the Latin Terra Australis a name used for putative lands in the southern hemisphere since ancient times, the Dutch adjectival form Australische was used in a Dutch book in Batavia in 1638, to refer to the newly discovered lands to the south. On 12 December 1817, Macquarie recommended to the Colonial Office that it be formally adopted, in 1824, the Admiralty agreed that the continent should be known officially as Australia. The first official published use of the term Australia came with the 1830 publication of The Australia Directory and these first inhabitants may have been ancestors of modern Indigenous Australians. The Torres Strait Islanders, ethnically Melanesian, were originally horticulturists, the northern coasts and waters of Australia were visited sporadically by fishermen from Maritime Southeast Asia. The first recorded European sighting of the Australian mainland, and the first recorded European landfall on the Australian continent, are attributed to the Dutch. The first ship and crew to chart the Australian coast and meet with Aboriginal people was the Duyfken captained by Dutch navigator, Willem Janszoon. He sighted the coast of Cape York Peninsula in early 1606, the Dutch charted the whole of the western and northern coastlines and named the island continent New Holland during the 17th century, but made no attempt at settlement. William Dampier, an English explorer and privateer, landed on the north-west coast of New Holland in 1688, in 1770, James Cook sailed along and mapped the east coast, which he named New South Wales and claimed for Great Britain. The first settlement led to the foundation of Sydney, and the exploration, a British settlement was established in Van Diemens Land, now known as Tasmania, in 1803, and it became a separate colony in 1825. The United Kingdom formally claimed the part of Western Australia in 1828. Separate colonies were carved from parts of New South Wales, South Australia in 1836, Victoria in 1851, the Northern Territory was founded in 1911 when it was excised from South Australia
3.
Monarch
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A monarch is the sovereign head of state in a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority and power in the state, alternatively, an individual may become monarch by conquest, acclamation or a combination of means. A monarch usually reigns for life or until abdication, if a young child is crowned the monarch, a regent is often appointed to govern until the monarch reaches the requisite adult age to rule. A monarch can reign in multiple monarchies simultaneously, for example, the monarchy of Canada and the monarchy of the United Kingdom are separate states, but they share the same monarch through personal union. Monarchs, as such, bear a variety of titles — king or queen, prince or princess, emperor or empress, archduke, duke or grand duke, Prince is sometimes used as a generic term to refer to any monarch regardless of title, especially in older texts. A king can also be a husband and a queen can be a kings wife. If both people in a reign, neither person is generally considered to be a consort. Monarchy is political or sociocultural in nature, and is associated with hereditary rule. Most monarchs, both historically and in the present day, have been born and brought up within a royal family, different systems of succession have been used, such as proximity of blood, primogeniture, agnatic seniority, Salic law, etc. In an elective monarchy, the monarch is elected but otherwise serves as any other monarch, historical examples of elective monarchy include the Holy Roman Emperors and the free election of kings of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In recent centuries, many states have abolished the monarchy and become republics, advocacy of government by a republic is called republicanism, while advocacy of monarchy is called monarchism. A principal advantage of hereditary monarchy is the continuity of national leadership. In cases where the monarch serves mostly as a ceremonial figure real leadership does not depend on the monarch, a form of government may in fact be hereditary without being considered monarchy, such as a family dictatorship. Monarchies take a variety of forms, such as the two co-princes of Andorra, positions held simultaneously by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Urgel and the elected President of France. Similarly, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia is considered a monarch despite only holding the position for five years at a time, hereditary succession within one patrilineal family has been most common, with preference for children over siblings, sons over daughters. Other European realms practice one form or another of primogeniture, whereunder a lord was succeeded by his eldest son or, if he had none, by his brother, the system of tanistry was semi-elective and gave weight also to ability and merit. The Salic law, practiced in France and in the Italian territories of the House of Savoy, in most fiefs, in the event of the demise of all legitimate male members of the patrilineage, a female of the family could succeed. Spain today continues this model of succession law, in the form of cognatic primogeniture, in more complex medieval cases, the sometimes conflicting principles of proximity and primogeniture battled, and outcomes were often idiosyncratic
4.
Elizabeth II
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Elizabeth II has been Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand since 6 February 1952. Elizabeth was born in London as the eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and her father acceded to the throne on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII in 1936, from which time she was the heir presumptive. She began to undertake duties during the Second World War. Elizabeths many historic visits and meetings include a visit to the Republic of Ireland. She has seen major changes, such as devolution in the United Kingdom, Canadian patriation. She has reigned through various wars and conflicts involving many of her realms and she is the worlds oldest reigning monarch as well as Britains longest-lived. In October 2016, she became the longest currently reigning monarch, in 2017 she became the first British monarch to commemorate a Sapphire Jubilee. Elizabeth has occasionally faced republican sentiments and press criticism of the family, however, support for the monarchy remains high. Elizabeth was born at 02,40 on 21 April 1926, during the reign of her paternal grandfather and her father, Prince Albert, Duke of York, was the second son of the King. Her mother, Elizabeth, Duchess of York, was the youngest daughter of Scottish aristocrat Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and she was delivered by Caesarean section at her maternal grandfathers London house,17 Bruton Street, Mayfair. Elizabeths only sibling, Princess Margaret, was born in 1930, the two princesses were educated at home under the supervision of their mother and their governess, Marion Crawford, who was casually known as Crawfie. Lessons concentrated on history, language, literature and music, Crawford published a biography of Elizabeth and Margarets childhood years entitled The Little Princesses in 1950, much to the dismay of the royal family. The book describes Elizabeths love of horses and dogs, her orderliness, others echoed such observations, Winston Churchill described Elizabeth when she was two as a character. She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant and her cousin Margaret Rhodes described her as a jolly little girl, but fundamentally sensible and well-behaved. During her grandfathers reign, Elizabeth was third in the line of succession to the throne, behind her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales, and her father, the Duke of York. Although her birth generated public interest, she was not expected to become queen, many people believed that he would marry and have children of his own. When her grandfather died in 1936 and her uncle succeeded as Edward VIII, she became second-in-line to the throne, later that year, Edward abdicated, after his proposed marriage to divorced socialite Wallis Simpson provoked a constitutional crisis. Consequently, Elizabeths father became king, and she became heir presumptive, if her parents had had a later son, she would have lost her position as first-in-line, as her brother would have been heir apparent and above her in the line of succession
5.
Governor-general
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Governor-General or governor general, in modern usage, is the title of an office-holder appointed to represent the monarch of a sovereign state in the governing of an independent realm. Governors-General have also previously been appointed in respect of major colonial states or other territories held by either a monarchy or republic, in modern usage, the term governor-general originated in those British colonies which became self-governing within the British Empire. In these cases, the Crowns representative in the federated Dominion was given the title of governor general. Another non-federal state, Newfoundland, was a Dominion for 16 years with the Kings representative retaining the title of governor throughout this time, since 2016, the title governor-general has been given to all representatives of the sovereign in independent Commonwealth realms. In these countries the governor-general acts as the representative, performing the ceremonial and constitutional functions of a head of state. The only other nation which uses the designation is Iran. In Iran, the authority is headed by a governor general. As such they held the prerogative powers of the monarch. The monarch or imperial government could overrule any governor-general, though this could often be cumbersome, the governors-general are entitled to wear a unique uniform, which are not generally worn today. If of the rank of general, equivalent or above. The report resulting from the 1926 Imperial Conference stated, in other words, the political reality of a self-governing Dominion within the British Empire with a governor-general answerable to the sovereign became clear. British interference in the Dominion was not acceptable and independent country status was clearly displayed, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand were clearly not controlled by the United Kingdom. The governor-general, however, is appointed by the monarch. Executive authority is vested in the monarch, though much of it can be exercisable only by the governor-general on behalf of the sovereign of the independent realm. Except in rare cases, the only acts in accordance with constitutional convention and upon the advice of the national prime minister. The governor-general is still the representative of the sovereign and performs the same duties as they carried out historically. In some realms, the monarch could in principle overrule a governor-general, in Australia the present Queen is generally assumed to be head of state, since the governor-general and the state governors are defined as her representatives. However, since the governor-general performs almost all national regal functions, to a lesser extent, uncertainty has been expressed in Canada as to which officeholder—the monarch, the governor general, or both—can be considered the head of state
6.
William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle
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Sidney was the younger of two children, and the only son, of William Sidney, 5th Baron De LIsle and Dudley and his wife, Winifred Agneta Yorke Bevan. The Sidney family is one of Englands oldest and most distinguished families and he was a descendant of King William IV by his mistress Dorothea Jordan. He was educated at Eton College and Magdalene College, Cambridge, in 1929 he joined the Grenadier Guards Reserve of Officers. Lord De LIsle married Hon Jacqueline Corrine Yvonne Vereker, daughter of Field Marshal John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort, Hon. Catherine Mary, married to Martin John Wilbraham, and then to Nicholas Hyde Villiers. Philip John Algernon, 2nd Viscount De LIsle Hon. Anne Marjorie, Hon. Lucy Corinna Agneta, married to Michael Willoughby, 13th Baron Middleton After his wifes death, he married the widowed Lady Glanusk on 24 March 1966 in Paris. During the Second World War, Sidney fought in the Battle of France, Sidney led a successful attack which drove German troops out of a gully. Later he led another counter-attack and dashed forward, engaging the Germans with his gun at point-blank range. During this time, although weak from loss of blood, he continued to encourage. In later life, when asked where he had been shot and this was to conceal the fact that he had, in fact, been shot in the buttocks. The ribbon for the medal was made one of his father-in-law Lord Gorts uniforms and was awarded by General Sir Harold Alexander, commanding the Allied Armies in Italy. At a by-election in October 1944, he was elected unopposed to the House of Commons as Conservative Member of Parliament for Chelsea and his father died in June 1945 and he succeeded as 6th Baron De LIsle and Dudley, requiring translation to the House of Lords. He thus retired from the House of Commons prior to the July 1945 general election, in 1951 he was appointed Secretary of State for Air under Winston Churchill and held that office until 1955. During this time he visited Australia, travelling to Woomera to examine weapons research and meeting the Prime Minister, in 1956 he was created Viscount De LIsle, of Penshurst in the County of Kent. In 1961, following the death of Lord Dunrossil, Menzies recommended De LIsles appointment as Governor-General of Australia. He performed his duties with dignity and travelled widely around Australia. De LIsles Official Secretary throughout his term was Murray Tyrrell, by the time of his retirement in 1965, public opinion was strongly in favour of an Australian Governor-General, although this was not a reflection on his performance in the role. In 1975 he co-founded what is now called The Freedom Association, Viscount De LIsle died in Kent on 5 April 1991 and was buried in the Sidney family vault at St John the Baptist, Penshurst. He was the last surviving Victoria Cross recipient who had been a member of both Houses of Parliament He was succeeded in his titles by his son, Philip
7.
Prime minister
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A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss members of the cabinet. In most systems, the minister is the presiding member. In parliamentary systems fashioned after the Westminster system, the minister is the presiding and actual head of government. In such systems, the head of state or the head of states official representative usually holds a ceremonial position. The prime minister is often, but not always, a member of the Legislature or the Lower House thereof and is expected with other ministers to ensure the passage of bills through the legislature. In some monarchies the monarch may also exercise powers that are constitutionally vested in the crown. The first actual usage of the prime minister or Premier Ministre was used by Cardinal Richelieu when in 1625 he was named to head the royal council as prime minister of France. Louis XIV and his descendants generally attempted to avoid giving this title to their chief ministers, the term prime minister in the sense that we know it originated in the 18th century in the United Kingdom when members of parliament disparagingly used the title in reference to Sir Robert Walpole. Over time, however, the title became honorific and remains so in the 21st century, the monarchs of England and the United Kingdom had ministers in whom they placed special trust and who were regarded as the head of the government. Examples were Thomas Cromwell under Henry VIII, William Cecil, Lord Burghley under Elizabeth I, Clarendon under Charles II and these ministers held a variety of formal posts, but were commonly known as the minister, the chief minister, the first minister and finally the prime minister. The power of ministers depended entirely on the personal favour of the monarch. Although managing the parliament was among the skills of holding high office. Although there was a cabinet, it was appointed entirely by the monarch, when the monarch grew tired of a first minister, he or she could be dismissed, or worse, Cromwell was executed and Clarendon driven into exile when they lost favour. Kings sometimes divided power equally between two or more ministers to prevent one minister from becoming too powerful, late in Annes reign, for example, the Tory ministers Harley and St John shared power. The monarch could no longer any law or impose any tax without its permission. It is at point that a modern style of prime minister begins to emerge. A tipping point in the evolution of the prime ministership came with the death of Anne in 1714, George spoke no English, spent much of his time at his home in Hanover, and had neither knowledge of, nor interest in, the details of English government
8.
Robert Menzies
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Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, KT, AK, CH, PC, QC, FAA, FRS, was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1949 to 1966. He is Australias longest-serving prime minister, serving over 18 years in total, Menzies studied law at the University of Melbourne and became one of Melbournes leading lawyers. He was Deputy Premier of Victoria from 1932 to 1934, and then transferred to federal parliament, subsequently becoming Attorney-General, in April 1939, following Lyons death, Menzies was elected leader of the United Australia Party and sworn in as prime minister. He authorised Australias entry into World War II in September 1939, on his return to Australia in August 1941, Menzies found that he had lost the support of his party and consequently resigned as prime minister. He subsequently helped to create the new Liberal Party, and was elected its leader in August 1945. At the 1949 federal election, Menzies led the Liberal–Country coalition to victory, after 1955, his government also received support from the Democratic Labor Party, a breakaway group from the Labor Party. Menzies won seven consecutive elections during his term, eventually retiring as prime minister in January 1966. Robert Gordon Menzies was born to James Menzies and Kate in Jeparit and he was the fourth of six children, with one sister and three brothers. His maternal grandfather, John Sampson, was a Cornish miner from Penzance who also came to seek his fortune on the goldfields and his father was elected to the Victorian State Parliament for the seat of Lowan in 1911 and moved with the family to Melbourne after selling the farm. His middle name, Gordon, was given to him in honour and memory of Charles George Gordon, Menziess formal education began at Humffray Street State School in Bakery Hill, Ballarat, then later at private school in Ballarat. He attended Wesley College in Melbourne and studied law at the University of Melbourne, when World War I began, Menzies was 19 years old and held a commission in the universitys militia unit. He resigned his commission at the very time others of his age and it was later stated that, since the family had made enough of a sacrifice to the war with the enlistment of two of three eligible brothers, Menzies should stay to finish his studies. Menzies himself never explained the reason why he chose not to enlist and it should be noted that the two brothers, James and Frank, who did enlist did not do so until 1915 after the landings at Anzac which belies the alleged reason. Subsequently, he was prominent in undergraduate activities and won prizes and declared himself to be a patriotic supporter of the war. In 1916 he became the editor of the Melbourne University Magazine, establishing a reputation as an unusually bright and articulate member of the undergraduate community. After graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1916 with First Class Honours in Law, Menzies was admitted to the Victorian Bar and to the High Court of Australia in 1918. Establishing his own practice in Melbourne, Menzies specialised chiefly in Constitutional law which he had read with the leading Victorian jurist and future High Court judge, Sir Owen Dixon. In 1920 Menzies served as an advocate for the Amalgamated Society of Engineers which eventually took its appeal to the High Court of Australia, the case became a landmark authority for the positive reinterpretation of Commonwealth powers over those of the States
9.
Election
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An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century, Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the executive and judiciary, and for regional and local government. This process is used in many other private and business organizations. Electoral reform describes the process of introducing fair electoral systems where they are not in place, psephology is the study of results and other statistics relating to elections. To elect means to choose or make a decision, and so other forms of ballot such as referendums are referred to as elections. Elections were used as early in history as ancient Greece and ancient Rome, and throughout the Medieval period to select rulers such as the Holy Roman Emperor, in Vedic period of India, the raja of a gana was apparently elected by the gana. The raja belonged to the noble Kshatriya varna, and was typically a son of the previous raja, however, the gana members had the final say in his elections. The Pala king Gopala in early medieval Bengal was elected by a group of feudal chieftains, such elections were quite common in contemporary societies of the region. In Chola Empire, around 920 CE, in Uthiramerur, palm leaves were used for selecting the village committee members, the leaves, with candidate names written on them, were put inside a mud pot. To select the members, a young boy was asked to take out as many leaves as the number of positions available. This was known as the Kudavolai system, ancient Arabs also used election to choose their caliph, Uthman and Ali, in the early medieval Rashidun Caliphate. Questions of suffrage, especially suffrage for minority groups, have dominated the history of elections, males, the dominate cultural group in North America and Europe, often dominated the electorate and continue to do so in many countries. Early elections in such as the United Kingdom and the United States were dominated by landed or ruling class males. However, by 1920 all Western European and North American democracies had universal male suffrage. Despite legally mandated universal suffrage for males, political barriers were sometimes erected to prevent fair access to elections. The question of who may vote is an issue in elections. In Australia Aboriginal people were not given the right to vote until 1962, suffrage is typically only for citizens of the country, though further limits may be imposed. However, in the European Union, one can vote in municipal elections if one lives in the municipality and is an EU citizen, the nationality of the country of residence is not required
10.
South Australia
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South Australia is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country, with a total land area of 983,482 square kilometres, it is the fourth-largest of Australias states and territories. Other population centres in the state are relatively small, the state comprises less than 8 percent of the Australian population and ranks fifth in population among the six states and two territories. The majority of its people reside in Adelaide, most of the remainder are settled in fertile areas along the south-eastern coast and River Murray. The states colonial origins are unique in Australia as a settled, planned British province. Official settlement began on 28 December 1836, when the colony was proclaimed at the Old Gum Tree by Governor John Hindmarsh, as with the rest of the continent, the region had been long occupied by Aboriginal peoples, who were organised into numerous tribes and languages. The first British settlement to be established was Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, on 26 July 1836, the guiding principle behind settlement was that of systematic colonisation, a theory espoused by Edward Gibbon Wakefield that was later employed by the New Zealand Company. The goal was to establish the province as a centre of civilisation for free immigrants, promising civil liberties, although its history is marked by economic hardship, South Australia has remained politically innovative and culturally vibrant. Today, it is known for its wine and numerous cultural festivals. The states economy is dominated by the agricultural, manufacturing and mining industries, the state has an increasingly significant finance sector as well. Evidence of human activity in South Australia dates back as far as 20,000 years, with flint mining activity, in addition wooden spears and tools were made in an area now covered in peat bog in the South East. Kangaroo Island was inhabited long before the island was cut off by rising sea levels, thijssen named his discovery Pieter Nuyts Land, after the highest ranking individual on board. The complete coastline of South Australia was first mapped by Matthew Flinders, the land which now forms the state of South Australia was claimed for Britain in 1788 as part of the colony of New South Wales. Although the new colony included almost two-thirds of the continent, early settlements were all on the eastern coast and it took more than forty years before any serious proposal to establish settlements in the south-western portion of New South Wales were put forward. In 1834, the British Parliament passed the South Australia Act 1834, the act stated that 802,511 square kilometres would be allotted to the colony and it would be convict-free. In contrast to the rest of Australia, terra nullius did not apply to the new province, although the patent guaranteed land rights under force of law for the indigenous inhabitants it was ignored by the South Australian Company authorities and squatters. Settlement of seven vessels and 636 people was made at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island. The first immigrants arrived at Holdfast Bay in November 1836, the Colonisation Commissioners intended to establish a police service as soon as misconduct within the increasing population warranted it
11.
New South Wales
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New South Wales is a state on the east coast of Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south and it has a coast line with the Tasman Sea on its east side. The Australian Capital Territory is an enclave within the state, New South Wales state capital is Sydney, which is also Australias most populous city. In March 2014, the population of New South Wales was 7.5 million. Just under two-thirds of the population,4.67 million. Inhabitants of New South Wales are referred to as New South Welshmen, the Colony of New South Wales was founded as a penal colony in 1788. It originally comprised a more than half of the Australian mainland with its western boundary set at 129th meridian east in 1825, in addition, the colony also included the island territories of New Zealand, Van Diemens Land, Lord Howe Island, and Norfolk Island. During the 19th century, most of the area was detached to form separate British colonies that eventually became New Zealand. However, the Swan River Colony has never administered as part of New South Wales. Lord Howe Island remains part of New South Wales, while Norfolk Island has become a federal Territory, as have the now known as the Australian Capital Territory. The prior inhabitants of New South Wales were the Aboriginal tribes who arrived in Australia about 40,000 to 60,000 years ago, before European settlement there were an estimated 250,000 Aboriginal people in the region. The Wodi Wodi people are the custodians of the Illawarra region of South Sydney. The Bundjalung people are the custodians of parts of the northern coastal areas. The European discovery of New South Wales was made by Captain James Cook during his 1770 survey along the eastern coast of the Dutch-named continent of New Holland. In his original journal covering the survey, in triplicate to satisfy Admiralty Orders, Cook first named the land New Wales, however, in the copy held by the Admiralty, he revised the wording to New South Wales. After years of chaos and anarchy after the overthrow of Governor William Bligh, macquaries legacy is still evident today. During the 19th century, large areas were separated to form the British colonies of Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria. Responsible government was granted to the New South Wales colony in 1855, following the Treaty of Waitangi, William Hobson declared British sovereignty over New Zealand in 1840
12.
Western Australia
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Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Southern Ocean to the south, the state has about 2.6 million inhabitants, around 11% of the national total. 92% of the lives in the south-west corner of the state. The first European visitor to Western Australia was the Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog, the first European settlement of Western Australia occurred following the landing by Major Edmund Lockyer on 26 December 1826 of an expedition on behalf of the New South Wales colonial government. This was followed by the establishment of the Swan River Colony in 1829, including the site of the present-day capital, york was the first inland settlement in Western Australia. Situated 97 kilometres east of Perth, it was settled on 16 September 1831, Western Australia achieved responsible government in 1890, and federated with the other British colonies in Australia in 1901. Today its economy relies on mining, agriculture and tourism. The state produces 46% of Australias exports, Western Australia is the second-largest iron ore producer in the world. The International Hydrographic Organization designates the body of water south of the continent as part of the Indian Ocean, the total length of the states eastern border is 1,862 km. There are 20,781 km of coastline, including 7,892 km of island coastline, the total land area occupied by the state is 2.5 million km2. Most of the state is a low plateau with an elevation of about 400 metres, very low relief. This descends relatively sharply to the plains, in some cases forming a sharp escarpment. The extreme age of the landscape has meant that the soils are remarkably infertile, even soils derived from granitic bedrock contain an order of magnitude less available phosphorus and only half as much nitrogen as soils in comparable climates in other continents. Soils derived from extensive sandplains or ironstone are even less fertile, nearly devoid of soluble phosphate and also deficient in zinc, copper, molybdenum, the infertility of most of the soils has required heavy application by farmers of chemical fertilisers, particularly superphosphate, insecticides and herbicides. These have resulted in damage to invertebrate and bacterial populations, the grazing and use of hoofed mammals and, later, heavy machinery through the years have resulted in compaction of soils and great damage to the fragile soils. Large-scale land clearing for agriculture has damaged habitats for native flora, large areas of the states wheatbelt region have problems with dryland salinity and the loss of fresh water. The southwest coastal area has a Mediterranean climate and it was originally heavily forested, including large stands of karri, one of the tallest trees in the world. This agricultural region is one of the nine most bio-diverse terrestrial habitats, thanks to the offshore Leeuwin Current, the area is one of the top six regions for marine biodiversity and contains the most southerly coral reefs in the world
13.
Monarchy of Australia
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The monarchy of Australia is a form of government in which a hereditary king or queen serves as the nations sovereign. The present monarch is Elizabeth II, styled Queen of Australia and she is represented in Australia by the governor-general, in accordance with the Australian constitution and letters patent from the Queen. In each of the states, the monarch is represented by a governor, the Australian monarch, besides reigning in Australia, separately serves as monarch for each of 15 other Commonwealth nations known as realms. This developed from the colonial relationship between these countries and the United Kingdom, but they are now independent of each other and are legally distinct. Likewise, on all matters relating to any Australian state, the monarch is advised by the ministers of the Crown of that state, the British government is thus considered a foreign power in regard to Australias domestic and foreign affairs. The sovereigns Australian title is currently Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth. Typically, the monarch is styled King or Queen of Australia and is addressed as such when in Australia or performing duties on behalf of Australia abroad, prior to 1953, the title had simply been the same as that in the United Kingdom. Australia, however, wished to have the United Kingdom mentioned as well, thus, the resolution was a title that included the United Kingdom but, for the first time, also separately mentioned Australia and the other Commonwealth realms. The passage of a new Royal Style and Titles Act by the Parliament of Australia put these recommendations into law, Queen Elizabeth II signed her assent at Government House, Canberra, on 19 October 1973. Australia does not pay any money to the Queen, either for personal income or to support the royal residences outside Australia, only when the Queen is in Australia does the Australian government support her in the performance of her duties. This rule applies equally to members of the Royal Family. Succession is according to British laws that have incorporated into Australian law. By adhering to the Statute of Westminster in 1942, Australia agreed to change its rules of only in agreement with the UK. Parallel proclamations are made by the governors in each state, regardless of any proclamations, the late sovereigns heir immediately and automatically succeeds, without any need for confirmation or further ceremony. After an individual ascends the throne, he or she continues to reign until death. The legal personality of a component of the Australian state is expressed by reference to the sovereign. In criminal prosecutions, the state as a party is named as The Queen—for instance. However, the prosecutors themselves are referred to as representing the Crown, more commonly and conveniently, however, the entity is referred to directly—for example, as The Commonwealth or The State of New South Wales or simply New South Wales
14.
Prime Minister of Australia
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The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the head of government of Australia. The individual who holds the office is the most senior Minister of the Crown, the leader of the Cabinet, the office is not mentioned in the Constitution of Australia and exists only through longstanding political convention and tradition. Despite this, in practice it is the most powerful position in Australia. The individual who holds the office is commissioned by the Governor-General of Australia, almost always and according to convention, the Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party or largest party in a coalition of parties in the House of Representatives. However, there is no requirement that the prime minister sit in the House of Representatives. The only case where a member of the Senate was appointed minister was John Gorton. Malcolm Turnbull has held the office of Prime Minister since 15 September 2015, the Prime Minister and Treasurer are traditionally members of the House, but the Constitution does not have such a requirement. Before being sworn in as a Minister of the Crown, a person must first be sworn in as a member of the Federal Executive Council if they are not already a member. Membership of the Federal Executive Council entitles the member to the style of The Honourable for life, the senior members of the Executive Council constitute the Cabinet of Australia. The Prime Minister is, like ministers, normally sworn in by the Governor-General. When defeated in an election, or on resigning, the Prime Minister is said to hand in the commission, in the event of a Prime Minister dying in office, or becoming incapacitated, the Governor-General can terminate the commission. Despite the importance of the office of minister, the Constitution does not mention the office by name. The conventions of the Westminster system were thought to be entrenched in Australia by the authors of the Constitution that it was deemed unnecessary to detail them. The formal title of the portfolio has always been simply Prime Minister, except for the period of the Fourth Deakin Ministry, Page was the leader of the smaller party in the governing coalition, the Country Party. He held the office for three weeks until the UAP elected a new leader, Robert Menzies, in August 1941 Menzies resigned as prime minister. In July 1945 John Curtin died suddenly and his deputy, Frank Forde, was sworn in the next day as prime minister, although the Labor Party had not had an opportunity to meet and elect a new leader. Forde served for eight days until Ben Chifley was elected leader, Chifley was then sworn in, replacing Forde, who became Australias shortest-serving prime minister. Harold Holt disappeared while swimming on 17 December 1967 and was declared presumed dead on 19 December, the governor-general, Lord Casey, commissioned the Leader of the Country Party, John McEwen, to form a government until the Liberal Party elected a new leader
15.
Governor-General of Australia
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The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia of the Australian monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor-General is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister of Australia, when travelling abroad, the Governor-General is seen as the representative of Australia, and of the Queen of Australia, so is treated as a head of state. The Governor-General is supported by a staff headed by the Official Secretary to the Governor-General, a Governor-General is not appointed for a specific term, but is generally expected to serve for five years subject to a possible short extension. Since 28 March 2014, the Governor-General has been General Sir Peter Cosgrove, from Federation in 1901 until 1965,11 out of the 15 Governors-General were British aristocrats, they included four barons, three viscounts, three earls, and one prince. Since then, all but one of the Governors-General have been Australian-born, as of 2017, only one Governor-General, Dame Quentin Bryce, was a woman. The selection of a Governor-General is a responsibility for the Prime Minister of Australia, the candidate is approached privately to confirm whether they are willing to accept the appointment. The prime minister advises the monarch to appoint his nominee. This has been the procedure since November 1930, when James Scullins proposed appointment of Sir Isaac Isaacs was fiercely opposed by the British government, Scullin was equally insistent that the monarch must act on the relevant prime ministers direct advice. Both of these appointments had been agreed to despite British government objections, despite these precedents, George V remained reluctant to accept Scullins recommendation of Isaacs and asked him to consider Field Marshal Sir William Birdwood. However, Scullin stood firm, and, on 29 November, the King agreed to Isaacss appointment and this right to not only advise the monarch directly, but also to expect that advice to be accepted, was soon taken up by all the other Dominion prime ministers. This, among other things, led to the Statute of Westminster 1931, having agreed to the appointment, the monarch then permits it to be publicly announced in advance, usually several months before the end of the current Governor-Generals term. During these months, the person is referred to as the Governor-General-designate, the actual appointment is made by the monarch. Governors-General have during their tenure the style His/Her Excellency the Honourable, since May 2013, the style used by a former Governor-General is the Honourable, it was at the same time retrospectively granted for life to all previous holders of the office. From the creation of the Order of Australia in 1975, the Governor-General was, ex officio, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order, and therefore became entitled to the post-nominal AC. In 1986 the Letters Patent were amended again, and Governors-General appointed from that time were again, ex officio, until 1989, all Governors-General were members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and thus held the additional style the Right Honourable for life. The same individuals were also usually either peers, knights, or both, in 1989, Bill Hayden, a republican, declined appointment to the British Privy Council and any imperial honours. Dame Quentin Bryce was the first Governor-General to have had no title or pre-nominal style. Until 2015, the honour continued after the retirement from office of the Governor-General, formerly, the Governor-General automatically became a knight or dame upon being sworn in
16.
Chief Justice of Australia
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The Chief Justice of Australia is the informal title for the presiding justice of the High Court of Australia and the highest-ranking judicial officer in the Commonwealth of Australia. The incumbent is Susan Kiefel, the first woman to hold the office, the Court was constituted by, and its first members were appointed under, the Judiciary Act 1903, with the first appointments to the High Court commencing on 5 October 1903. The Chief Justice is first among equals among the Justices of the High Court, all Justices, including the Chief Justice, are appointed by the Governor-General of Australia, on the advice of the federal government. They can be removed only by the Governor-General, on a request from both houses of the parliament, although this has never been done. Since 1977, appointment has been until the retirement age of seventy. The Chief Justice often acts as the Governor-Generals deputy, especially at such as the opening of Parliament after an election. Chief Justice Samuel Griffith was several times consulted by Governors-General of Australia on the exercise of the reserve powers, the Chief Justice also administers the Oath of Allegiance to the Monarch and an Oath of Office to the Governor-General-designate when he or she takes up his or her appointment. Chief Justice Sir John Latham was absent from the office when he served from 1940 to 1941 as Australias first ambassador to Japan, Sir George Rich was Acting Chief Justice in Lathams absence
17.
Owen Dixon
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Sir Owen Dixon OM GCMG QC was an Australian judge and diplomat who served as the sixth Chief Justice of Australia. A judge of the High Court for thirty-five years, Dixon was one of the jurists in the English-speaking world and is widely regarded as Australias greatest-ever jurist. Dixon was born in Hawthorn in suburban Melbourne in 1886 and his father, JW Dixon, was a barrister and subsequently a solicitor. He attended Hawthorn College and later the University of Melbourne, graduating with an Arts degree in 1907, during this time, he developed his lifelong love of the classics from his classical philology professor, Thomas George Tucker. He was also influenced by professor of law, William Harrison Moore and his B. A. became an M. A. as was the custom then, a year later upon the payment of a small fee. He then studied law at Melbourne Law School and was awarded a Bachelor of Laws in 1908, Dixon was later awarded honorary doctorates from Oxford, Harvard, and the University of Melbourne. Dixon was admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1910, in December 1911, he appeared before the High Court of Australia for the first time, aged just 25 years. After a slow start, his career became stellar, and he was made a Kings Counsel in 1922. In the 1920s, Dixon was a prominent member of the Victorian Bar, along with his colleagues and friends John Latham (who would precede Dixon as Chief Justice of Australia and he regularly appeared in the High Court of Australia and the Privy Council in London. At the time of his appointment to the High Court in 1929, he was the leader of the Bar in Victoria. In 1920, he married Alice Brooksbank and they had four children, Franklin, Ted, Betty and Anne. In 1926, Dixon was briefly made an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, in 1929, Dixon was appointed to the bench of the High Court, on the recommendation of his friend John Latham, who was then the Commonwealth Attorney-General. During his time on the bench, Dixon also wrote several judgments on behalf of his colleague, Sir George Rich. Examples are McDonald v Dennys Lascelles Ltd 48 CLR457, Brunker v Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd 57 CLR555, Yerkey v Jones 63 CLR649 and Penfolds Wines v Elliott 74 CLR204. Dixon had reservations about the appointment of Labor politicians Herbert Vere Evatt and he and Evatt wrote a number of joint judgments prior to Evatts resignation in 1940 to return to politics. From 1942 to 1944, Dixon took leave from his duties while he served as Australia’s Minister to the United States. On 27 May 1950, Dixon was invited by the United Nations to act as their official mediator between the governments of India and Pakistan over the territory of Kashmir. His role was to continue conciliation talks between the two nations in the lead-up to a plebiscite to be put to the residents of Kashmir
18.
Premier of New South Wales
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The Premier of New South Wales is the head of government in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Government of New South Wales follows the Westminster system, with a Parliament of New South Wales acting as the legislature, prior to Federation in 1901 the term Prime Minister of New South Wales was used, Premier was used from 1901. The current Premier is Gladys Berejiklian, the Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party, Berejiklian replaced Mike Baird on 23 January 2017, after Baird resigned as Premier. As of January 2017, nine former Premiers are alive, the oldest being Barrie Unsworth, the most recent premier to die was Tom Lewis on 25 April 2016. List of Premiers of New South Wales by time in office Deputy Premier of New South Wales
19.
Bob Heffron
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Robert James Bob Heffron, also known as R. J. Heffron, was a long-serving New South Wales politician, union organiser and Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales from 1959 to 1964. Born in New Zealand, Heffron became involved in various Socialist and Labor movements in New Zealand, being a prominent unionist organiser, having been gaoled at one stage for conspiracy to strike action, he was eventually elected to the Parliament of New South Wales for Botany in 1930. However his disputes with party leader Jack Lang led to his expulsion from the ALP in 1936, the success of his party enabled his readmission to the party and his prominence in a post-Lang NSW Branch which won office in 1941. Heffron served as Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of William McKell, James McGirr and Joseph Cahill, most notably as Minister for Education from 1944 to 1960 and as Deputy Premier. Rising to become Premier in 1959, he spearheaded an attempt to abolish the New South Wales Legislative Council via referendum in 1961. Serving as Premier until 1964, Heffron was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 37 years until his retirement on 23 January 1968. Bob Heffron was born on 10 September 1890 in Thames, New Zealand, the child of Irish-born parents Michael Heffron, a blacksmith. After spending his early education at nearby Hikutaia, Heffron left school at 15 to work in a plant while studying metallurgy at the Thames School of Mines. At 19, he went to California to work and to the Yukon in Canada to look for gold, although having volunteered for military service in the First World War, Heffron was rejected on medical grounds, with the attending doctor citing heart troubles. On 29 December 1917 he married Jessie Bjornstad, the daughter of a Norwegian engineer, in 1921, the Heffrons moved to Melbourne, Victoria. That same year in Victoria, Heffron was appointed an organiser for the Federated Clothing Trades of the Commonwealth of Australia, later in 1921 he moved to Sydney, becoming the secretary of the New South Wales branch of the Federated Marine Stewards and Pantrymens Association of Australasia. As the unions secretary, a role he would hold for ten years. For this, in April the government of Sir George Fuller had Heffron, a contest marked by clashes and accusations of rorting, Heffron was ultimately unsuccessful, gaining only 45% of the vote. He was eventually successful at the election in 1930, defeating Mutch. As a result, Heffron, along with his colleague Carlo Lazzarini and others, formed the Industrial Labor Party, despite their expulsion, Heffron and the new ILP did increasingly well against Lang and the Labor Party, winning two subsequent by-elections in the seats of Hurstville and Waverley. In June 1939, three other MPs, Frank Burke, Mat Davidson and Ted Horsington, unhappy with Langs leadership joined the ILP. Heffron then combined forces with William McKell to depose Lang on 5 September 1939, with McKell becoming the new leader of the party, serving until 8 June 1944, Heffron advocated public vigilance whilst in this portfolio, declaring, We are living in a fools paradise in Australia. Many people have the idea that what is happening in other countries cannot happen here, Heffron also clashed with the Federal Governments imposition of National Emergency Services procedures, most notably over the imposition of brownouts for the city of Sydney
20.
Premier of Queensland
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The Premier of Queensland is the head of government in the Australian state of Queensland. By convention the Premier is the leader of the party with a majority in the unicameral Legislative Assembly of Queensland. The Premier is appointed by the Governor of Queensland, the incumbent Premier of Queensland since the 2015 election is Annastacia Palaszczuk of the Australian Labor Party. Under section 42 of the Constitution of Queensland the Premier and other members of Cabinet are appointed by the Governor and are responsible to Parliament. The text of the Constitution assigns to the Premier certain powers, such as the power to assign roles to Assistant Ministers, although ministerial appointments are the prerogative of the Governor of Queensland, in normal circumstances the Governor will make these appointments under the advice of the Premier. A re-elected government will be resworn, with adjustments to the ministry as determined by the Premier, the Premier has an office in the Executive Annexe of Parliament House, Brisbane, which is normally used while Parliament is sitting. At other times the Premiers ministerial office is in 1 William Street, before the 1890s, there was no developed party system in Queensland. Political affiliation labels before that time indicate a general tendency only, before the end of the first decade of the twentieth century, political parties were more akin to parliamentary factions, and were fluid, informal and disorganised by modern standards. As of February 2015, six former premiers are alive, the oldest being Russell Cooper, the most recent premier to die was Wayne Goss, on 10 November 2014. List of Premiers of Queensland by time in office Government of Queensland Politics of Queensland
21.
Frank Nicklin
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Sir George Francis Reuben Nicklin, KCMG, MM was Premier of the Australian state of Queensland from 1957 to 1968, and the first non Labor Party Premier since 1932. Nicklin was born in Murwillumbah, New South Wales on 6 August 1895 and he was educated at Murwillumbah Public School and Highfield College in Turramurra, Sydney. In 1910 the family moved to Beerwah in Queensland, where Nicklins father took up banana farming, Nicklin enrolled in the army in 1916 served with distinction during World War I, where he was promoted to corporal and was awarded the Military Medal. On his return to Queensland he bought a small farm at Palmwoods,100 kilometres north of Brisbane. Nicklin saved wisely and put his experience to good use. He led many fruit-growers organisations, and then involved in Country Party politics. When the Member for the solid Country Party seat of Murrumba retired in 1932 and he won the seat, although the National Progressive Country Party Government of A. E. Moore was heavily defeated. Nicklin, therefore, entered Parliament as an opposition backbencher. He transferred to Landsborough in 1950, Nicklin was a popular and hardworking local member, and remained popular throughout very difficult times for the Country Party in Queensland. The opposition was fractured and weak, and the Government of William Forgan Smith very secure, Nicklins preferred area was agriculture, and he made many speeches on the subject. In 1941 the opposition suffered another defeat, with Labor winning 41 seats to the Country Partys 14. After the election, the two parties decided to merge. Maher stood down, and Nicklin was elected to lead the new Country-National Party, the merger fell apart in 1944, but Nicklin remained as head of a Country Party-UAP coalition. Nicklin was leader of the opposition for sixteen years, losing five elections in a row, in 1942 Labor abolished full preferential voting, meaning that the Country Party and UAP could no longer rely on each others preferences in seats that they both contested. Despite these setbacks, Nicklin was never challenged for the leadership, many coalition members appeared to have given up on the idea of defeating the ALP, and were content to simply represent their constituencies. Accordingly, Nicklin was left to handle most of the business of opposition and he acknowledged to a 1955 conference of leading Country Party figures that their chances of ever being seated to the right of the speaker were slim, but he continued as opposition leader anyway. After the 1956 election, in which he was defeated by Labors Vince Gair. However, his fortunes would soon change, the late 1950s saw increasing fear of communism in Australia, and increasing tensions between the Parliamentary Labor Party and the partys union-dominated Central Executive in Queensland
22.
Premier of South Australia
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The Premier of South Australia is the head of government in the state of South Australia, Australia. The Government of South Australia follows the Westminster system, with a Parliament of South Australia acting as the legislature, the current Premier is Jay Weatherill, the Leader of the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party. Weatherill replaced Mike Rann on 21 October 2011, after Rann resigned as Premier, before the 1890s when there was no formal party system in South Australia, MPs tended to have historical liberal or conservative beliefs. The liberals dominated government from the 1893 election to 1905 election with the support of the South Australian United Labor Party, Labor took government with the support of eight dissident liberals in 1905 when Labor won the most seats for the first time. The rise of Labor saw non-Labor politics start to merge into various party incarnations, Labor formed South Australias first majority government after winning the 1910 state election, triggering the merger. The 1910 election came two weeks after federal Labor formed Australias first elected majority government at the 1910 federal election, no Country or rural conservative parties emerged as serious long-term forces in South Australian state politics, often folding into the main non-Labor party. There are six living former premiers, the oldest being Steele Hall, the most recent premier to die was John Bannon on 13 December 2015. In the following timeline, the legend includes the Liberal and Democratic Union, the Liberal Union, the Liberal Party of Australia is represented as Liberal only. The grey area represents the duration of Playmander electoral malapportionment, beginning in 1936, in effect until the 1970 election
23.
Thomas Playford IV
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Sir Thomas Playford GCMG was a South Australian politician. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia and leader of the Liberal, though controversial, it was the longest term of any elected government leader in the history of Australia, or indeed of anywhere under the Westminster system. His tenure as premier was marked by a period of population and he grew up on the family farm in Norton Summit before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force in World War I, fighting in Gallipoli and Western Europe. After serving, he continued farming until his election as a Liberal, Playford inherited a minority government and many independents to deal with, and instability was expected, Playford was seen as a transitional leader. However, Playford dealt with the independents adroitly and went on to secure a majority at the next election. The Labor leader Mick OHalloran worked cooperatively with Playford and was known to be happy being out of power, Playfords policies allowed for the supply of cheap electricity to factories, minimal business taxes, and low wages to make the state more attractive to industrial investment. Implemented in the 1940s, these policies were seen as dangerous to Playfords control of his party, during the 1950s, Playford and the LCLs share of the vote declined continually despite the economic growth, and they clung to power mainly due to the Playmander. However, Playford was a utilitarian, and was unmoved by calls to broaden policy focus beyond economic development. This was exacerbated by Playford and his partys failure to adapt to changing social mores, remaining committed to restrictive laws on alcohol, gambling. He relinquished the party leadership to Steele Hall and retired at the next election, serving on various South Australian company boards until his death in 1981. The Playford family heritage can be traced back to 1759, when a boy was left at the door of a house in Barnby Dun, Yorkshire, England. The occupants of the house, who were to raise the child, were given instructions to receive money from an account for the deed. The child grew up to be a farmer in the village. The tradition of naming the firstborn son in the family in this way has continued since, the second Playford was something of a loner, but at the age of 15 he developed a relationship with a girl five years his senior with whom he fathered a child. In order to avoid the stigma of the situation, and on the advice of his parents. While three years under the age, Playfords height enabled him to pass as eighteen. He spent 24 years in the service of the Life Guards, fighting all over Europe in Portugal, Spain and France, while a soldier, Playford became a devout Christian, and journeyed and listened to many different churches and sermons. He was sceptical of many pastors and church men, dismissing their high sounding barren words and he left the Life Guards in 1834, received a land grant in Canada for his service, and journeyed there with his wife and family
24.
Premier of Tasmania
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The Premier of Tasmania is the head of the executive government in the Australian state of Tasmania. By convention, the party or political grouping which has majority support in the House of Assembly will nominate its leader to be Premier, the nominated politician is then invited by the Governor of Tasmania to act as their principal adviser. Before the 1890s, there was no party system in Tasmania. Party labels before that time indicate a general tendency only, the current convention of appointing the Premier from the House of Assembly was not generally applied prior to 1920, with Premiers often appointed from the Legislative Council. The incumbent Premier of Tasmania since the 2014 election is Will Hodgman of the Liberal Party of Australia, as of 24 January 2011, eight former premiers are alive, the oldest being Tony Rundle. The most recent premier to die was Sir Angus Bethune, on 27 August 2004, the most recently serving premier to die was Jim Bacon, on 20 June 2004. List of Premiers of Tasmania by time in office Leader of the Opposition Governors of Tasmania PREMIERS OF TASMANIA Parliament of Tasmania
25.
Eric Reece
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Eric Elliott Reece, AC was Premier of Tasmania on two occasions, from 26 August 1958 to 26 May 1969, and from 3 May 1972 to 31 March 1975. Born in the small Tasmanian town of Mathinna, Reece joined the Australian Workers Union in 1934, from 1935 to 1946 he was in charge of the AWUs West Coast District organisation. Reece attempted to enter the House of Representatives for the Division of Darwin at the elections of 1940 and 1943. In 1943, his opponent was Dame Enid Lyons. On 23 November 1946, Reece was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly and he would represent this seat, renamed Braddon in 1955, until his retirement in 1975. These roles he combined with the presidency of the Labor Party between 1952 and 1955. He became Premier in 1958 after Cosgroves resignation, unexpectedly, Reece lost the premiership in 1969, when the ALP was narrowly defeated by the Liberal Party led by Angus Bethune. This ended 35 years of uninterrupted Labor government in Tasmania, the Liberals had gained a one-seat majority in the House of Assembly by forming a coalition with former Speaker Kevin Lyons, who had founded his own Centre Party. Nevertheless, the period of rule ended when Lyons quit the coalition. Reece and the Labor Party regained control in a landslide win and this was as much a personal victory as a political one, since Reece himself topped the poll in Braddon with 35. 4%, still a record for an individual candidate in that electorate. As of 2016 he remains the last person to make a comeback as Premier of any Australian state after losing the position. Well known for his support of Tasmanias Hydro Electric Commission and its power development schemes on the Gordon River. Reece refused Whitlams offer, stating that he would not have the Federal Government interfering with the rights of Tasmania. Reece was quoted as saying, There was a National Park out there, at least, it wasnt of substantial significance in the scheme of things. The thing that was significant was that we had to double the output of power in state in 10 years in order supply the demands of industry. And this was the scheme that looked as though it could do a part of job for us. For a while during the 1970s, Reece combined his duties as Premier with a return to the ALPs federal presidency, on 31 March 1975 he retired from the premiership and from the legislature, by this stage, the party had introduced a mandatory retirement age of 65. Despite being no longer involved with state politics after 1975
26.
Premier of Western Australia
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The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive branch of government in the Australian state of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions. The incumbent Premier of Western Australia is Mark McGowan who won the 2017 state election and was sworn in on 17 March 2017 by Governor Kerry Sanderson as the 30th Premier of Western Australia. The premier must be a member of one of the two Houses of the Parliament of Western Australia, and by convention the premier is a member of the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. He or she is appointed by the governor on the advice of the lower house, consequently, the premier is almost always the leader of the political party or coalition of parties with the majority of seats in the lower house. The office of premier of Western Australia was first formed in 1890, the Constitution of Western Australia does not explicitly provide for a premier, and the office was not formally listed as one of the executive offices until the appointment of Ross McLarty in 1947. Nonetheless, John Forrest immediately adopted the title on taking office as first premier of Western Australia in 1890, John Forrest was the only premier of Western Australia as a self-governing colony. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, Western Australia became an Australian state, Party politics began in Western Australia with the rise of the Labor party in 1901. By 1904, the party system was entrenched in Western Australian politics, since then the premiers have been associated with political parties. Western Australias constitution contains nothing to preclude the premier being a member of the upper house, historically and by convention, however, the premier is a member of the Assembly. During the economic boom of the 1980s, the Western Australian government became involved with a number of large businesses. A succession of deals were made between the government and businesses, and these ultimately caused great losses for the state, a subsequent royal commission found evidence of widespread corruption. Three former premiers were found to have acted improperly and two of them, Ray OConnor and Brian Burke, were jailed and this scandal became popularly known as WA Inc. As of 4 April 2017, seven former premiers are alive, the oldest being Peter Dowding, the most recent premier to die was Ray OConnor, on 25 February 2013, aged 86. He served as premier for a month before resigning after no seat could be found. b Prior to the 1904 election, no organised political parties existed, walter Kingsmill served as Acting Premier during this time
27.
David Brand
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Sir David Brand KCMG was an Australian politician. He resigned as leader of the Liberal Party in 1973, and retired from politics in 1975, Brand was born in Dongara, Western Australia, the eldest of four children of Albert John Brand, a farmer, and his wife Hilda, née Mitchell. His maternal grandfather was Samuel Mitchell, a Cornish immigrant who was a pioneer of the industry in Western Australia. Brands parents farmed at Northampton and moved to a farm near Mullewa in 1924 and he left school at 14 to work on the farm, and at Mullewa became secretary of the local branch of the Primary Producers Association, a forerunner of the Farmers Federation. In 1935, Brand moved to Kalgoorlie and worked at the Golden Horseshoe Mine, as a driver, treatment hand, filter specialist. In his spare time, he was active in the Methodist Church, Brand was of Cornish descent, like both his predecessor, Albert Hawke, and successor, John Tonkin, as premier. Following the outbreak of World War II, Brand enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 23 November 1939, as a Private, he was assigned to the 2/11th Battalion, part of the 6th Division, which embarked for the Middle East on 20 April 1940. Brand was eventually sent back to Australia for further treatment, arriving in August and he was re-mobilised in September, as an instructor with the 7th Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps, in Geraldton and was promoted to Warrant Officer in January 1943. With the war beginning to wind down, Brand was discharged from the army in January 1945. Brand married Doris Elspeth McNeill at Mingenew Methodist Church on 20 March 1944, after his army discharge, Brand took over the general store at Dongara. The incumbent Labor member for the State seat of Greenough, John Newton, was killed in action with the RAAF in 1945, Brand won the seat for the Liberal Party in a by-election that year, defeating Newtons brother by a narrow margin. Brand was the first person in Australia to win election to an Australian parliament as a candidate of the newly formed Liberal Party, in October 1949, Ross McLarty became Premier and Brand entered the Ministry as Minister for Housing, Forests and Local Government. From April 1950 he was Minister for Works, Water Supply, Brand would later describe this as one of his greatest achievements. He was also involved in the creation of major industrial projects. After the Coalitions defeat in 1953, Brand became deputy leader of the Opposition, after McLartys retirement, Brand was elected party leader on 1 March 1957. The Coalition was returned to power in 1959, and Brand was sworn in as Premier on 2 April and his administration retained office at the elections of 1962,1965, and 1968. This was achieved with the assistance of the West Australian branch of the Democratic Labor Party which split the Labor vote in some metropolitan electorates, the DLP was active in Western Australia between 1959 and 1974. In 1960, the Federal government lifted its embargo on iron exports, the mining of large bauxite deposits in the Darling Scarp also commenced, along with expansion of mineral processing at Kwinana and the South West
28.
Premier of Victoria
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The Premier of Victoria is the leader of the government in the Australian state of Victoria. The Premier is appointed by the Governor of Victoria, and is the leader of the party able to secure a majority in the Legislative Assembly. Responsible government came to the colony of Victoria in 1855, between 1856 and 1892, the head of the government was commonly called the Premier or the Prime Minister, but neither title had any legal basis. The head of government always held another portfolio, usually Chief Secretary or Treasurer, the first head of government to hold the title of Premier without holding another portfolio was William Shiels in 1892. The incumbent Premier of Victoria since the 2014 election is Daniel Andrews of the Australian Labor Party, as of September 2016, six former premiers are alive, the oldest being John Cain. The most recent premier to die was Joan Kirner, on 1 June 2015, department of Premier and Cabinet, Victoria Deputy Premier of Victoria List of Premiers of Victoria by time in office ABC News - Premiers of Victoria
29.
Henry Bolte
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Sir Henry Edward Bolte GCMG was an Australian politician. He was the 38th and longest serving Premier of Victoria, Henry Bolte was born in Ballarat, the son of a publican of German descent. He was to spend the first 24 years of his life in the western district town of Skipton. He was educated at Skipton primary school and Ballarat Grammar School, after working in various manual jobs he married Edith Elder in 1934 and bought a small farm at Bamganie near Meredith, where he lived for the rest of his life, running sheep and cattle. In 1940 Bolte joined the Australian Army and served as a sergeant with a regiment until 1945. After the war he returned to farming and became active in the newly formed Liberal Party, at the 1945 election he stood unsuccessfully for the seat of Hampden in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, but in 1947 he stood again and was elected. Victorian politics was volatile at this time, with a succession of weak short-term governments, the electoral system was malapportioned in favour of rural areas, which gave the minority Country Party disproportionate power. As a rural Liberal, Bolte despised the Country Party nearly as much as the Labor Party, when Bolte was elected to Parliament in 1947 the Liberal leader was Thomas Hollway, who also came from Ballarat but was a much more liberal politician than Bolte. In 1951 Hollway tried to reform the system, which caused a split in the Liberal Party and his replacement by Trevor Oldham. When Oldham was killed in an air crash on the way to the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953, Bolte won the 1955 elections with a huge majority, routing both Labor and the Country Party. He was able to form the first stable conservative government in Victoria for many years, Bolte was a rough-hewn politician who liked to be seen as a simple farmer, but he had a shrewd political mind. He rapidly consolidated himself in power, helped by the faction of the Labor Party, the Democratic Labor Party. His populist attacks on the unions, intellectuals, protesters. A portrait of Bolte by William Dargie hangs in Queens Hall at Parliament House Victoria, Bolte used state debt to provide a wide range of state infrastructure and he was very successful at winning overseas investment for the state. Bolte was easily re-elected at the 1958,1961 and 1964 state elections and he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in the New Years Day honours list of 1966. In the New Years Day honours list of 1972 he was advanced to the rank of Knight Grand Cross. His wife, Lady Edith Lilian Bolte, known as Jill Bolte, was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1972 for Public service to Victoria, Bolte was a proponent of using capital punishment as a deterrent against violent crime. Justice Starke subscribed to the substitute Tait theory, Starke had defended Tait, Starke said After Bolte was denied with Tait he simply waited for the next cab off the ranks, and poor Ryan happened to be the next cab
30.
Governor of New South Wales
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The Governor of New South Wales is the viceregal representative of the Australian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, in the state of New South Wales. In an analogous way to the Governor-General of Australia at the national level, the Governor is appointed by the queen on the advice of the Premier of New South Wales, for an unfixed period of time—known as serving At Her Majestys pleasure—though five years is the norm. The current Governor is retired General David Hurley, who succeeded Dame Marie Bashir on 2 October 2014, the office has its origin in the 18th-century colonial governors of New South Wales upon its settlement in 1788, and is the oldest continuous institution in Australia. The office of Governor is required by the New South Wales Constitution Act,1902, besides the administration of the oaths of office, there is no set formula for the swearing-in of a governor-designate. The sovereign will also hold an audience with the appointee and will at that time induct the governor-designate as a Companion of the Order of Australia. The incumbent will generally serve for at least five years, though this is only a convention. The premier may therefore recommend to the Queen that the remain in her service for a longer period of time. A governor may also resign and three have died in office, furthermore, if the Lieutenant Governor becomes incapacitated while serving in the office of Governor, the next most senior judge of the Supreme Court is sworn in as the Administrator. Between 1788 and 1957, all governors were born outside of New South Wales and were members of the Peerage. Taylor once noted that out and governing New South Wales became the British aristocracys abiding consolation. Coincidentally the first Australian-born Governor, Sir John Northcott on 1 August 1946, was also the first Australian-born Governor of any state, the first Governors were all military officers and the majority of governors since have come from a military background, numbering 19. Samuels was the first governor in New South Wales history without either a political, public service or military background, the first woman to hold this position is also the first Lebanese-Australian governor, Dame Marie Bashir. In this capacity, the governor will issue royal proclamations and sign orders in council, the Governor alone is constitutionally mandated to summon parliament. The governor grants Royal Assent in the Queens name, legally, if the governor withholds the Queens assent, the sovereign may within two years disallow the bill, thereby annulling the law in question. No modern viceroy has denied Royal Assent to a bill, with most constitutional functions delegated to Cabinet, the governor acts in a primarily ceremonial fashion. He or she will host members of Australias royal family, as well as foreign royalty, also as part of international relations, the governor receives letters of credence and of recall from foreign consul-generals appointed to Sydney. The governor is also tasked with fostering unity and pride, the governor also traditionally serves as Honorary and Regimental Colonel in the Royal New South Wales Regiment and as Honorary Air Commodore of No.22 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. Since 1946, the governor has also always made the Chief Scout of New South Wales
31.
Eric Woodward
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Lieutenant General Sir Eric Winslow Woodward KCMG, KCVO, CB, CBE, DSO was an Australian military officer and Viceroy. Woodward was born in Hay, New South Wales in July 1899, the son of Victorian-born parents Albert William Woodward, a cattle station manager. He and attended Toowoomba Grammar School, at school he did well academically, becoming Captain of the swimming team and playing in the First XV Rugby Team. However, due to his familys financial concerns, he was unable to attend university, therefore, in 1917 he entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He graduated and was commissioned a lieutenant on 16 December 1920, Woodward first served twelve months with the 7th Queens Own Hussars in India from 1921–1922. Following this service Woodward returned to Australia and, in 1925, he transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force and qualified as a pilot at No.1 Flying Training School in Point Cook, on 7 February 1927, in Melbourne, he married his cousin Amy Weller. Despite his apparent success as a pilot, he reverted to the service in 1928. In January 1937 he was sent to the Staff College, Camberley in England, in the Middle East he gained distinction during the North Africa Campaign from December 1940 to January 1941 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8 July 1941. He served in the Greece Campaign from March to April 1941 as a lieutenant colonel on General Sir Thomas Blameys staff, in May 1942 he was posted to the 9th Division. He fought in both the First and Second Battles of El Alamein and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 11 February 1943 and he was twice mentioned in despatches for his work in the Middle East. Arriving back in Australia in February 1943, in March Woodward was promoted to the rank of brigadier and was posted to the headquarters of the Northern Territory Force until December 1943 and he then served in various administrative positions until the end of the war. From July 1945 to March 1946 he was appointed deputy adjutant and quartermaster-general, in 1948 Woodward attended the Imperial Defence College and remained in London as Australian Army representative for the High Commission of Australia in London. In December 1949 he was at Army Headquarters in Melbourne and implemented the new National Service scheme, on 20 February 1951 he was promoted to temporary major general and made Deputy Chief of the General Staff. Weary of involvement with bureaucrats, he requested not be put forward as a candidate for Chief of the General Staff, in 1952 he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Appointed General Officer Commanding Eastern Command in December 1953, he was elevated to the role his great-grandfather Charles William Wall had held from 1823 to 1825. He was further appointed as a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1956, Woodward was further promoted as a lieutenant general in December 1953. The thirty-first governor of New South Wales, he was the first to have born in the state. As governor he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1958, the St. George Greek Orthodox parish in Rose Bay, Sydney was dedicated as a War Memorial by Woodward on 25 November 1962
32.
Governor of Queensland
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The Governor of Queensland is the representative in the state of Queensland of the Queen of Australia. In an analogous way to the Governor-General of Australia at the national level, in particular the Governor has the power to appoint and dismiss the Premier of Queensland and all other Ministers in the Cabinet, and issue writs for the election of the state Parliament. The current Governor, Paul de Jersey, was sworn in on 29 July 2014, as from June 2014, The Queen, upon the recommendation of then-Premier Campbell Newman, accorded all current, future and living former Governors the title The Honourable in perpetuity. The Governor of Queensland has resided at Government House, Brisbane since 1910, the mansion, set in 14 hectares of gardens and bushland in the Brisbane suburb of Bardon, is also known as Fernberg. Unlike Fernberg, the original Government House was purpose-built and was used from 1862 to 1910, the office of Governor is established by the Constitution of Queensland. Nevertheless, the Governor retains the powers of the Crown, and has the right to appoint and dismiss Ministers, issue pardons. Sir Joh elected to resign on 1 December 1987, the Governor is head of the Executive Council, a Queensland equivalent to the Federal Executive Council. The Council is composed of ministers from the government of the day, the Chief Justice of Queensland and other judges in the Queensland judicial system are appointed by the Governor acting on the advice of the Executive Council. The first Australian- born Governor of Queensland was Lieutenant-General Sir John Lavarack and his successor, Sir Henry Abel Smith was British. All subsequent governors have been Australian-born, except for Leneen Forde, four former governors of Queensland are alive, the oldest being Leneen Forde. The most recent death of a governor was that of Sir Walter Campbell. Administrators and Lieutenant-Governors are deputy roles generally appointed to carry out the duties of the Governor when the Governor is unavailable, the following are the Administrators and Lieutenant-Governors of Queensland, Official Website of the Governor of Queensland
33.
Henry Abel Smith
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Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith KCMG, KCVO, DSO was a British Army officer and a Governor of Queensland. He was born in London, on 8 March 1900, the son of Francis Abel Smith, of Selsdon Park and Wilford House, and his wife Madeline St. Maur Seymour. His grandparents were Henry Abel Smith and Elizabeth Mary Pym, and his great-grandparents were Francis Pym and Lady Lucy Leslie-Meville, daughter of Alexander Leslie-Melville and he descended from the Smiths banking family and was also a descendant of Edward Seymour, 8th Duke of Somerset. Abel Smith was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and he served in the Second World War, winning the Distinguished Service Order. He retired as a Colonel in 1950, on 24 October 1931, he married Lady May Cambridge, at St. Marys Church, Balcombe, Sussex. She was born Princess May of Teck, and was a niece of King George V and Queen Mary, and a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. They had three children, Anne Mary Sibylla Abel Smith, she married David Liddell-Grainger on 14 December 1957, they were divorced in 1981 but have five children and her eldest son is the Conservative Member of Parliament Ian Liddell-Grainger. Colonel Richard Francis Abel Smith, he married Marcia Kendrew on 28 April 1960, they have one daughter, Elizabeth Alice Abel Smith, she married Peter Wise on 29 April 1965, they divorced in 1975 and had one daughter who died as an infant. Sir Henry was appointed Governor of Queensland from 18 March 1958 and he was highly respected in the office of governor. People lined the streets as a mark of high esteem to bid farewell to him, Sir Henry died at Barton Lodge, Winkfield, Berkshire, on 24 January 1993 aged 92. His funeral service took place at St. Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle and his cremated remains were buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore. His wife survived him by only sixteen months
34.
Governor of South Australia
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The Governor of South Australia is the representative in the Australian state of South Australia of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The Governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the level as does the Governor-General of Australia at the national level. The Governors official residence is Government House, in Adelaide, the states capital, nevertheless, the Governor retains the reserve powers of the Crown, and has the right to dismiss the Premier. The Westminster system is a form of constitutional monarchy, the first Australian-born Governor of South Australia was Major-General Sir James Harrison, and most subsequent governors have been Australian-born. The first South Australian-born governor was Sir Mark Oliphant, the current governor is Hieu Van Le. The term of the governor, Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce. As from June 2014, the Queen, upon the recommendation of the Premier, accorded all current, future and these people administered the government in the absence of the official governor. Three former governors are alive, the oldest being Sir Eric Neal, the latest-serving former governor to die was Dame Roma Mitchell, on 5 March 2000. The most recent death of a governor was that of Sir Keith Seaman. The Official Website of the Governor of South Australia Previous governors on official website
35.
Edric Bastyan
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He was the last British person to be governor of either state. Bastyan was promoted to major on 30 August 1940, from November 1939 to June 1941, during World War II, Bastyan served as a GSO II in Palestine with the Royal Irish Fusiliers and was mentioned in dispatches in March 1941. He served as assistant quarter-master general in the Middle East from July 1941 to May 1942, Bastyan was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in September 1942, by which time he was a temporary lieutenant colonel. He was promoted to temporary brigadier the following month and confirmed as a war substantive lieutenant colonel in November 1942, Bastyan served as a temporary brigadier from then until January 1944, when he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in August 1944, in December 1944, Bastyan was appointed an acting major-general. He was promoted to colonel in July 1945, and confirmed as temporary major-general in October 1946, after the war, Bastyan served as General Officer Commanding the British Army of the Rhine until 1948, after which he worked at the War Office through 1952. He was promoted to substantive major-general on 26 January 1948, with seniority from 13 April 1946, during his military career, senior posts held by him included head of logistics during the Berlin airlift and Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong from 1957 to 1960. He retired from the British Army in 1960 and was appointed Governor of South Australia on 4 April 1961, on two occasions during his period as governor in South Australia, the elections did not result in a clear majority. In both 1962 and 1968, rather than make a decision to select the premier from the party with the largest minority, he bided time. In both cases, the decision would have turned out to be wrong, and the South Australian House of Assembly selected the premier from the other party. In 1962, this allowed the LCL Playford government to continue rather than the Labor Party led by Frank Walsh, in 1968, the Labor government of Don Dunstan lost to the Liberals led by Steele Hall. Without this leadership from the governor, there would likely have been a need for another election much sooner, the matter was resolved by Kevin Lyons, the lone representative of the tiny Centre Party entering into a coalition with the Liberals. Bastyan returned to Adelaide in his retirement, list of commanders in Hong Kong. British and Indian armies on the China coast 1785–1985
36.
Governor of Tasmania
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The Governor of Tasmania is the representative in the Australian state of Tasmania of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The Governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the level as the Governor-General of Australia does at the national level. Nevertheless, the Governor retains the powers of the Crown. See Governors of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Governor, the official residence of the Governor is Government House located at the Queens Domain. The first Australian-born Governor of Tasmania was Sir Stanley Burbury, the first Tasmanian-born governor was Sir Guy Green. Since Burbury, all Tasmanian governors have been Australian-born, except for Peter Underwood, on 10 November, Premier Will Hodgman announced that University of Tasmania legal academic Kate Warner would be appointed as the states first female governor. Warner was sworn in on 10 December, between 1804 and 1813, Van Diemens Land was divided along the 42nd parallel, and the two sections governed as separate Lieutenant-Governorships under the Governor of New South Wales. Collins was the officially appointed Lieutenant-Governor—upon his death in 1810. The northern settlement at Port Dalrymple was administered by four Commandants until the settlements were merged to form the colony under the governorship of Thomas Davey in 1813. The colony was called Van Diemens Land until 1856, four former governors are alive, the oldest being Sir Phillip Bennett. The latest-serving former governor to die was Sir Stanley Burbury, on 24 April 1995, the most recently serving governor to die was Peter Underwood, who died in office on 7 July 2014. Governors and Lieutenant Governors of Tasmania Parliamentary Library - Governors of Tasmania
37.
Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan
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Thomas Godfrey Polson Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan KT, KBE, MC, TD, had a distinguished military career, and was Chief Scout of the British Commonwealth and Empire and Governor of Tasmania. Known as Billy to the family, he was educated at Gibbs School in Sloane Street, London, Wellington House Preparatory School in Westgate-on-Sea and Eton College. Thomas Corbett was 18 when the First World War broke out, he secured a Commission in the Ayrshire Yeomanry, the Ayrshires were amongst the last troops to be evacuated and went from there to Egypt, forming part of the cavalry reserve in the Second Battle of Gaza. He then transferred to the Grenadier Guards, after re-training he was sent to the Western Front in March 1918 and this coincided with the German Spring Offensive, and the battalion was soon in action. He married Gwyn Mervyn Grimond on 14 August 1918 and she was the sister of Jo Grimond, Baron Grimond, the leader of the Liberal Party 1956–67 and daughter of Joseph Bowman Grimond of St Andrews, Fife. He had met her while on leave, they had five sons, on leaving the army he became a successful breeder of pedigree dairy cattle on the family estate in Ayrshire and campaigned for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis. He succeeded as the 2nd Baron Rowallan on 19 March 1933, Rowallan became district commissioner for north-west Ayrshire Scouts in 1922 and also served as Adjutant of the Ayrshire Yeomanry. In 1939, he raised a new Territorial Army battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers whom he accompanied to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1939. A measure of his influence is that a “Rowallan Company” was formed at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1977 using his methods to improve the performance of Officer Cadets, in 1944, Rowallan accepted the position of Scottish Headquarters Commissioner for leader training. Rowallan served on the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1947 until 1953, during this time, he was also a governor of the National Bank of Scotland. He received the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh in March 1957 and was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Thistle in March of that year. Also in 1957, he received the Bronze Wolf, the distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. In 1954, a Britannia Class Locomotive was named in his honour, Scout camp sites in Riddells Creek in Victoria, and Wrexham in Wales are named after him, as is the Kenya Scouts Association Headquarters Campsite in Nairobi. Lord Rowallan became Governor of Tasmania on 21 October 1959, despite the Australian Labor Party having resolved that the governor of Tasmania should be an Australian. He did much to promote Tasmania and to protect its interests, Rowallan Power Station and its associated dam and lake are named after him. In his spare time, he built up a herd of Jersey cattle at Government House, in 1961 Rowallan was diagnosed as suffering from cancer of the palate, for which he was treated in London. His term of office ended on 25 March 1963 and he retired to his estate in Scotland. He completed his autobiography, Rowallan, in his eightieth year and he died at Rowallan Castle near Kilmarnock on 30 November 1977
38.
Governor of Western Australia
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The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of the Queen of Australia, Elizabeth II. Furthermore, all Bills passed by the Parliament of Western Australia require the Governors signature before they become Acts, the current governor is Kerry Sanderson, who is the first woman to hold the position. She succeeded Malcolm McCusker in October 2014, until the appointment of Sir James Mitchell in 1948, all governors of Western Australia had been British officials. The Governor of Western Australia is styled Her Excellency during her term in office, in August 2014, three of the four living past governors – John Sanderson, Ken Michael, and Malcolm McCusker – were given the title The Honourable, on the recommendation of the premier. The other living former governor, Michael Jeffery, already held the title and this is a list of Governors and Lieutenant-Governors of Western Australia. Stirling had said of his own position, I believe I am the first Governor who ever formed a settlement without Commission, Laws, Instructions, four former governors are alive, the oldest being Michael Jeffery. The most recent governor to die was Sir Francis Burt, on 8 September 2004, Government House, Perth Government House, Western Australia, The Official Website of the Governor of Western Australia
39.
Charles Gairdner
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Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Henry Gairdner GBE, KCMG, KCVO, CB was a senior British Army officer who later occupied two viceregal positions in Australia. Born in Batavia in the Dutch East Indies, he was brought up in Ireland, and educated at Repton School, Gairdner died in Nedlands, Western Australia, at the age of 84, and was awarded a state funeral. Gairdner was born in Batavia, Netherlands East Indies in 1898, brought up in County Galway, Ireland, he was educated at Repton School in England, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He married the Hon. Evelyn Constance Handcock, daughter of the 5th Lord Castlemain, in 1925, upon graduation, Gairdner was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the artillery in May 1916 and sent to the Western Front. In this campaign, he sustained a wound to the right leg which necessitated numerous operations throughout his life. After the war he transferred to cavalry and he spent two years at the Staff College, Camberley from 1933 to 1934. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom by the United States in London on 16 January 1947 and he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1946 and Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1948. Gairdners distinguished military career was rewarded in 1951 when he was appointed Governor of Western Australia and he was governor during a number of royal visits to Perth – the earliest being that of Queen Elizabeth II in 1954. His long residency in Western Australia was during a time when Perth and he was very popular with the Western Australian public. Gairdners tenure was relatively free of political or constitutional crisis, however the parliament remained in recess until Labor won the ensuing 1956 general election. The Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth was named in his honour in May 1963, Gairdner stepped down from his post on 26 June 1963. He lobbied for the position of Governor of Tasmania and on 23 September 1963 was appointed for five years, in February 1969 the Gairdners returned to Perth and settled at Peppermint Grove. Survived by his wife, Sir Charles died on 22 February 1983 at Nedlands and was cremated after a state funeral, during his terms as both Governor of Western Australia and Governor of Tasmania, he was also Grand Master of the respective Grand Lodges
40.
Governor of Victoria
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The Governor of Victoria is the representative in the Australian state of Victoria of its monarch, Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia and is one of the Governors of the Australian states. The governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the level as does the Governor-General of Australia at the federal level. The governors office and official residence is Government House next to the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Governor of Victoria is appointed by the Queen of Australia on the advice of the Premier of Victoria. The current Governor of Victoria is former judge Linda Dessau, Victorias first female governor, nevertheless, the governor retains the reserve powers of the Crown, and has the right to dismiss the premier. The governor of Victoria is appointed by the queen of Australia, on the advice of the premier of Victoria, to act as her representative as head of state in Victoria. The governor acts at the pleasure, meaning that the term of the governor can be terminated at any time by the queen acting upon the advice of the premier. Upon appointment, he or she becomes a viceroy, the governors main responsibilities fall into three categories – constitutional, ceremonial and community engagement. In 1984, the Personal Standard of the Governor of Victoria was changed to the State Flag of Victoria, with the blue background replaced by gold, above the Southern Cross is the Royal Crown. Previously, the used by Victorian governors after 1870 had been the Union Jack with the Badge of the State of Victoria emblazoned in the centre. Between 1903 and 1953, the Tudor Crown was used on the State Flag and Governors Standard, the Governor’s Standard is flown at Government House and on vehicles conveying the governor. The Standard is lowered over Government House when the governor is absent from Victoria, there is also a lieutenant-governor and an administrator. The Chief Justice of Victoria is ex officio the Administrator, unless he or she is the lieutenant-governor, in which case, the lieutenant-governor takes on the responsibilities of the governor when that post is vacant or when the governor is out of the state or unable to act. The administrator takes on those duties if both the governor and lieutenant-governor are not able to act for the above reasons, see Governors of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of governor. Until the appointment of Victorian-born Sir Henry Winneke in 1974, the Governors of Victoria were British, prior to the separation of the colony of Victoria from New South Wales in 1851, the area was called the Port Phillip District of New South Wales. The Governor of New South Wales appointed superintendents of the District, in 1839 Charles La Trobe was appointed superintendent. La Trobe became Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria on separation on 1 July 1851, between 1850 and 1861, the Governor of New South Wales was titled Governor-General of New South Wales, in an attempt to form a federal structure. Until Victoria obtained responsible government in 1855, the Governor-General of New South Wales appointed lieutenant-governors to Victoria, on Victoria obtaining responsible government in May 1855, the title of the then incumbent lieutenant-governor, Captain Sir Charles Hotham, became governor. As of July 2015, four former governors are alive, the oldest being John Landy, the most recent governor to die was Davis McCaughey, on 25 March 2005
41.
Dallas Brooks
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General Sir Reginald Alexander Dallas Brooks, GCMG, KCB, KCVO, DSO, KStJ was a British military commander who went on to become the 19th and longest-serving Governor of Victoria, Australia. Brooks was born on 22 August 1896 at Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, son of Dallas George Brooks and Violet Ruth and he was educated at Dover College and joined the Royal Marines in 1914. During the First World War he was wounded during the Gallipoli landings in 1915. He took part in the Zeebrugge Raid in 1918, for which he was awarded a Distinguished Service Order, upon returning from war, Brooks made his first-class debut for the Royal Navy against Cambridge University in 1919 as a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium. The same season he made his debut for Hampshire against Surrey in the County Championship, Brooks represented Hampshire eight times in the 1919, making his maiden first-class century against Gloucestershire with a score of 107. He represented Hampshire in nine matches between 1919 and 1921, with his final first-class appearance for the county coming against Middlesex. He scored 244 runs for Hampshire at a average of 16.26, with one century and one half century. In 1920 Brooks made his second century, this time for the Royal Navy against the Army. He played as an all-rounder for the Royal Navy, a role he did not fill at Hampshire, in all, Brooks represented the Royal Navy in sixteen first-class matches, with his final appearance for them coming against the Royal Air Force in 1929. In his sixteen matches for the Royal Navy, Brooks scored 690 runs at a average of 23.00, with one century. With the ball he took 38 wickets at a average of 27.63. Additionally, he represented the Combined Services with four first-class matches, Brooks graduated from the Royal Navy Staff College in 1934, and from 1943 served as Director-General of the Political Warfare Executive. In 1946 he was appointed Commandant General Royal Marines in the rank of lieutenant general and he was promoted to general in 1948, knighted that year, and retired in May 1949. Brooks was appointed Governor of Victoria by Premier Thomas Hollway and served from 1949 to 1963, during his term as governor, he acted as Administrator of the Commonwealth three times. He served in capacity for almost seven months after the governor-general, Viscount Dunrossil. Sir Dallas was in effect Acting governor-general until the appointment of the Viscount De LIsle, Brooks served the state for over 13 years, becoming Victorias longest-serving governor. After his term ended in 1963, he chose to remain in Australia in retirement and he built a house in Frankston and died there three years later. Brooks was Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria from 1951–1963 and he was Victorias longest serving Grand Master, and he is the only governor of any Australian state initiated to the craft while serving as governor
