Gough Whitlam is 97 years old today.
Australia’s 21st prime minister was born on July 11, 1916, in Kew. He was elected to the House of Representatives as the member for Werriwa on November 29, 1952. He held the seat until his retirement in July 1978.
Elected deputy leader of the ALP in 1960, Whitlam went on to succeed Arthur Calwell as leader in 1967. Defeated in the 1969 election, he led the ALP to victory on December 2, 1972. The Whitlam government was re-elected on May 18, 1974 and held office until it was dismissed by the Governor-General on November 11, 1975.
Whitlam resides in an aged care facility in Sydney. His wife, Margaret, died in 2012.
- The famous chant:
- We Want Gough!
- The Power and the Passion
