Gough Whitlam dead - Australian history

Vincenzo · 21-10-2014, 04:49 PM

I have just read that Gough Whitlam has died at the age of 98. This is not a political statement but I thought I would share my small part of history with you.

In 1975 I was a 17y/0 working in the Commonwealth Public Service in Canberra as a Departmental Courier. I had the mail run and the deliveries to / from Parliament House. One day in November I had an urgent delivery to the Minister's Office. Drove to Parliament House, parked out the front as usual and proceeded to enter via the security entrance under the front stairs. Once I was inside, what should have been a 10 minute turnaround was about an hour and a half. Something big was happening but no one was talking. Once I had the response I went to walk out the front doors only to find a lot of people milling around. I eventually got back to my car (1974 Passat Station Wagon) only to be stuck there as a lot of people had gathered.

On the 11th November 1975, Malcolm Fraser (opposition leader) went to see the Governor General, Sir John Kerr to ask him to sack the government of the day as he had the numbers to Govern in his own right. Sir John obliged and David Smith stood on the steps of the old Parliament House and announced what had just happened. He ended the reading of the declaration with "God save the Queen".

Then Gough uttered his famous words, "Well may he say God save the Queen, for nothing ... will save the Governor General".

So it was a young 17y/o got to see a piece of Australian History. I have to say Gough was an extremely powerful figure standing there .

RIP Mr Whitlam.

Cheers Vincenzo

Vincenzo · 21-10-2014, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndrome

He was a blight on Australia's political landscape.

As i stated in the beginning, this is not a political statement !!

Cheers Vincenzo

poppa smurf · 21-10-2014, 05:16 PM

98.....not a bad innings.......large, powerful man.

Syndrome · 21-10-2014, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincenzo

As i stated in the beginning, this is not a political statement !!

Cheers Vincenzo

How can you discuss a former prime minister and not involve politics?

Vincenzo · 21-10-2014, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndrome

How can you discuss a former prime minister and not involve politics?

Easy, I was merely stating / announcing his death which I had just read about and the small part of Australian history I got to see happen live, nothing more, nothing less.

If you want a political discussion PM me!

Cheers Vincenzo

jpblue1000 · 21-10-2014, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndrome

How can you discuss a former prime minister and not involve politics?

He was a person first, a leader second and a Labour politician third.
talk about the first two, That's how

JP

cheap · 21-10-2014, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincenzo

As i stated in the beginning, this is not a political statement !!

Cheers Vincenzo

Oh I see, it's ok for you to have an opinion...

Fact: His government (actually him - because it was always about him) got the worst election result ever

That my friend may offer you a clue as to how the vast majority of people's opinion were about him - the majority could not stand another nanosecond of him as PM. Heck voting for Malcolm Fraser was seen as a better option than Whitlam!

Let the rewriting of history begin...

castellan · 21-10-2014, 05:54 PM

I just thought I may share my small part of history with you to.
I remember how bad it was with Aussie business's going down the drain everywhere is what I seen, we were in a state of shock. seeing a santa claws run loose with the payment of it all down the track left to us to foot the bill.

Sure he had some good idea's but as some were borrowed from other nations that it all had failed badly with that rot before.

The average Aussie did not have the brains to know what it was he was up to as they thought it was Christmas.

It was the start of the cancer in our nations history of two extreme left and right wing idiot madness of the ALP and Libs. both are Vampires !

**buggerlugs** · 21-10-2014, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheap

Oh I see, it's ok for you to have an opinion...

Fact: His government (actually him - because it was always about him) got the worst election result ever

That my friend may offer you a clue as to how the vast majority of people's opinion were about him - the majority could not stand another nanosecond of him as PM. Heck voting for Malcolm Fraser was seen as a better option than Whitlam!

Let the rewriting of history begin...

As usual, your on cue........

RIP Gough.....................

jpblue1000 · 21-10-2014, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheap

Stating facts, what's the problem?

To be fair fella!
Some people looked up to Gough, respected and admired the man. Maybe not all and some maybe with rose tinted glasses but he has just died. They are remembering one of their heroes and the tone of your posts are negative.
He was a man who lead the country for better or worse, he stood up and was counted and history will remember him.
Too soon after the announcement of his death to be laying the boot in for cheap political mileage.
Respect for a fellow Australian who has passed isn't much to ask

JP

Vincenzo · 21-10-2014, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheap

Oh, no problem, can the thread be locked and a condolences thread be started. I'm of the opinion the OP was nothing but political admiration content.

Far from it my friend. I was merely letting people know of his death and the small part of history I got to see live.

As i stated previously, if you want a political discussion PM me.

Asking for a thread to be locked because you are losing the argument is a bit rich !!

Cheers Vincenzo

Bearman · 21-10-2014, 06:54 PM

Gough Whitlam was a significant figure in our history. Whatever your political persuasion, love him or hate him he will never be forgotten.

I was still a kid when he was in power then dismissed. My view of him was, and will always be painted by being in a conservative rural electorate from a farming family. My political persuasion is conservative but he did do some good things. Perhaps he was ahead of his time??

The fact that he and Malcolm Fraser became such good friends after being bitter enemies just shows how much common ground the two found in each other over time. In any case there will never be another Gough Whitlam. RIP.

**buggerlugs** · 21-10-2014, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheap

Oh, no problem, can the thread be locked and a condolences thread be started. I'm of the opinion the OP was nothing but political admiration content.

You Sir, are a grub. Pure and simple

MrEL · 21-10-2014, 07:39 PM

Like him or Loathe him , he was a massive part in Australia's history.
I knew he had done a lot of stuff , some controversial but it wasn't until today that I realised just how much he had a hand in.
For people to sit there and bag the crap out of him , make sure you have not previously used and never plan to use any of the things he got up off the ground , a lot of which is still around today.

superyob · 21-10-2014, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincenzo

I have just read that Gough Whitlam has died at the age of 98. This is not a political statement but I thought I would share my small part of history with you.

In 1975 I was a 17y/0 working in the Commonwealth Public Service in Canberra as a Departmental Courier. I had the mail run and the deliveries to / from Parliament House. One day in November I had an urgent delivery to the Minister's Office. Drove to Parliament House, parked out the front as usual and proceeded to enter via the security entrance under the front stairs. Once I was inside, what should have been a 10 minute turnaround was about an hour and a half. Something big was happening but no one was talking. Once I had the response I went to walk out the front doors only to find a lot of people milling around. I eventually got back to my car (1974 Passat Station Wagon) only to be stuck there as a lot of people had gathered.

On the 11th November 1975, Malcolm Fraser (opposition leader) went to see the Governor General, Sir John Kerr to ask him to sack the government of the day as he had the numbers to Govern in his own right. Sir John obliged and David Smith stood on the steps of the old Parliament House and announced what had just happened. He ended the reading of the declaration with "God save the Queen".

Then Gough uttered his famous words, "Well may he say God save the Queen, for nothing ... will save the Governor General".

So it was a young 17y/o got to see a piece of Australian History. I have to say Gough was an extremely powerful figure standing there .

RIP Mr Whitlam.

Cheers Vincenzo

This is simply a recount of an historical event. I fail to see how certain posters find this political...

39ClevoUte · 21-10-2014, 07:48 PM

RIP Gough, thankyou for JJ.

Work Horse · 21-10-2014, 07:50 PM

Laughing at the truth, cos Gough was tough til he hit the rough
Uncle Sam and John were quite enough

Too much of sunshine too much of sky
It's just enough to make you want to cry
It's just enough to make you want to cry

Oh the power and the passion, oh the temper of the time
Oh the power and the passion
Sometimes you've got to take the hardest line......

RIP Gough.

**supershifty** · 21-10-2014, 08:16 PM

Before my time for voting as I was born in 1966, but I believe he did much for Australia.

Got a Medicare card? Still here today.

Free university education for the masses who wished to take it on - gone now, but many have benefited from it. Some of our greatest professionals benefit and contribute to our society today.

Indigenous land rights and respect for the indigenous folk was forwarded from Mr Whitlam in the early 70's.

I was only a kid when Mr Whitlam got to be in power. Anything else I could add would only be considered political.

On both sides of politics there's been many great leaders/parties that have done great things for Australia - let's leave it at that. Aussie democracy works - it just cycles!

Cheers!

SpoolMan · 21-10-2014, 08:26 PM

Post 13 sums it up.
some off you need or look for any little and I mean little thing to stuff up other members threads.
Post your thoughts and move on, and show some respect to the family keep it civil or you will be locked out.

**buggerlugs** · 21-10-2014, 08:26 PM

Malcom Fraser just said on the Project that Gough had "an indigestion of ideas" when he came to power. Meaning he had so many great ideas but tried to push them thru all at once.........
A lot of respect for each other, Malcom and Gough, and both have done a lot of unrecognized work for their country after politics.................

Syndrome · 21-10-2014, 08:34 PM

In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics.' All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.

- George Orwell

Work Horse · 21-10-2014, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndrome

So the rewriting of history has commenced. All who post here must praise the deceased PM. His flaws and fallings must be glossed over.

"In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act" - George Orwell

Posts in the bar on AFF=historical documents

**SSD-85** · 21-10-2014, 08:53 PM

FFS, Some people just. do. not. get. it.

-Bloke is reminded of personal experience with the recently deceased, makes a thread.
-Knobs turn thread into Blown-out barely related philosophical-political BS
-People get upset over essentially nothing
-Thread gets closed
-Similar thread pops up in future
-Rinse & repeat

Maka · 21-10-2014, 09:40 PM

Condolences & best wishes to the Whitlam family, Gough will never be forgotten by many here in Australia & oversea's. Rightly so - he was an outstanding human being on so many levels. RIP Gough in heaven with Margaret.

cheers, Maka

**Uncle_Ken** · 21-10-2014, 09:59 PM

politicians impact on all our lives. Some more than others. Gough was a more politician for sure. Now wether that was a good or bad thing depends on how you try to live your life.
For me in general I assume the worst from politicians, it kind of goes with the job. Gough changed things and in a small country like Australia that impacts more loudly than in a large country. But being 18 at the time I reckon and being that close would be something you would always remember, which is why the post was made. So thanks for sharing a personal memory part out our recent history. It made an interesting read and made me think of days gone by.

UK

**Uncle_Ken** · 21-10-2014, 10:00 PM

And PS sorry re the typo's.
UK

last fairlane · 21-10-2014, 10:20 PM

May the last of the "true believers" rest in peace
your name lives on in my son Andrew John Gough
sadness all round
I lost another hero
John

CoupeKing · 21-10-2014, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Work Horse

Laughing at the truth, cos Gough was tough til he hit the rough
Uncle Sam and John were quite enough

Too much of sunshine too much of sky
It's just enough to make you want to cry
It's just enough to make you want to cry

Oh the power and the passion, oh the temper of the time
Oh the power and the passion
Sometimes you've got to take the hardest line......

RIP Gough.

And approve an Uranium Mine

zilo · 21-10-2014, 10:54 PM

He lived longer than 99 percent of the contributors of this thread will...

Franco Cozzo · 21-10-2014, 11:32 PM

98 is a good run, I was born many years later and I didn't exist back in the 1970s (my parents did though).

To me I can't understand why he is hated? Medicare, equal pay for women, no university fees?

Whats there not to like about that?

I might not have existed back in the 1970s but I have a Medicare card in my wallet.