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Sir Robert Menzies

Posted in 1963

  • Order of Knight of the ThistleMarch: The Queen confers on Menzies -

"the 'Most Noble Order of the Thistle', as a personal honour in recognition of his services to the Queen and to Australia. This knighthood, of Scottish origin in 1687 and second only to the Order of the Garter in the hierarchy of British honours, was in the gift only of the reigning monarch, who was herself Sovereign of the Order, which in turn was limited to sixteen members. It was the highest Order of knighthood to which an Australian had so far been admitted."

"Even the Sydney Morning Herald, in a generous editorial ... accepted the honour as something which as much dignified Australia as her Prime Minister. '... no one could begrudge the fact that this same man was 'now a proud Knight of the Thistle, quietly rejoicing, no doubt, in the motto of the Order, "No one provokes me with impunity"'.
A W Martin, Robert Menzies A Life Vol 2 1944-1978, 1999 p 456.

  • Sir Robert Menzies with Dame Pattie and their grandchildren, Diana, Robert, Alec and LindsayOn the hustings 1960s style:

PRIME MINISTER ROBERT MENZIES SPEAKING ABOUT THE AIRFORCE AT THE RAAF FACTORY, POINT COOK, VICTORIA:

"The Opposition Leader said, 'You haven't got one.' Now I'll give you the answer to this story.
The only time our opponents ever took any interest in this matter they used to say, 'Well, you know, you must have an airforce, that's the thing that's important. We must have the best aircraft in the world.'

Now, what's the position? What is the position?
(Interjection)
My dear boy, you're not off the drawing board yourself!
(Much laughter)
I can tell that by looking at you.
(Applause)
Why, you're not even a prototype yet, this chap.

Now let's talk about the airforce."

  • Menzies government is returned at the election on 30 November with a majority of 22 seats. This is the last of seven elections Menzies won in a row before his retirement in 1966.
  • Delivers the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Oration at Monticello, a national shrine. Menzies is the first non-American to do so.
  • Order of the Thistle induction procession, St Giles Cathedral, EdinburghInducted into the Order of the Thistle at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, the only Australian appointed to the Order, an honour in the gift of the reigning monarch.