Edward Gough Whitlam21st Prime Minister of Australia Gough Whitlam, Leader the Australian Labor Party (ALP) when he won the 1972 federal election. He was most successful politician changed Australia through a variety of reform programs.Gough Whitlam was borne on 11 July 1916 in Kew a suburb of Melbourne, was the elder of two children, raised by mother Martha and father Fredrick Whitlam. Due to his father working in the tax office when he joined the Commonwealth Public Service, Gough spent most of his childhood traveling from Melbourne to Sydney in 1921 and moved to Canberra in 1922.Gough Whitlam early educational career was spent in “Mowbray House” and “Canberra Boys” Grammar School. Following that, he studied Law and Arts degree at “University of Sydney” and completed in 1937.During his schooling years his achievements included the school magazines the “Telopea” and “The Canberran” as well as he edited his College journal “The Pauline” and “Hermes”.After completing his Law and Arts degree, Gough registered with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and six weeks after he married Margaret Dovey.
Then Gough joined the Australian Labor Party in 1945, a few years later Whitlam won the federal seat in Werriwa. Shortly in 1960 Whitlam elected Dupty Leader of the Australian Leader Party, then he became a Leader of the Australian Leader Party.In 1972 Whitlam began the “Its Time” campaign to end military conscription and end of the Australia’s participation in the Vietnam War, as well as he introduced free university education as well as returning land rights to Aboriginals, also Gough established national relationship between China and Australia, also Gough became the Official Prime Minister of Australia.
In 1973 Gough Whitlam introduced welfare payments for both single – parent families and homeless people. That same year he reduced the voting age from 21 to 18, as well as removed the death penalty for federal crimes. This was also the year he began the free “National Healthcare” scheme known as Medicare, it gave Australians free access to hospitals.
These were some of the major reforms Gough initiated in Australia. In 1974 Gough Whitlam changed Australia’s national anthem to “Advance Australia Fair”. However, in 1975 the Governor General Sir John Kerr dismissed Whitlam as Prime Minister due to a number of issues relating to lands and funds.Gough Whitlam had natural leadership skills he applied of his management and abilities on his business, political in his life.
He also had strong beliefs and long-term goals and passionate about real estate, law, science specially (physics and history). He was a very successful politician and a strong businessman, and he was best known for his ability to inspire people.Gough Whitlam will always be remembered by the way he was dismissed, and his reforms had shaped Australia’s healthcare system (Medicare), and education.Gough Whitlam passed away on 21 October 2014 at age 98 but the heritage he left and his strengths as a leader with pride will never be forgotten.
