1978

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Sir Robert Menzies

Posted in 1978

  • "The Australian" Newspaper 16 May 1978Sir Robert dies on 15 May in Melbourne, aged 83.

"The years spanned by Menzies' lifetime had taken civilization from horseless carriages to freeways; from the Wright brothers to a jet that could cross the world in a day; instant telecommunication, bringing an isolated Australia into the 'global village'; wars that drew the nations together; the nuclear bomb; and a growing maturity as travel, education and culture became accessible to everyone; Menzies lived through the changes and seemed to enjoy the journey."
State Funeral: Order of Service, Scots' Church, Melbourne 19 May 1978Video script, Menzies In His Time, 1994.

† Funeral Cortege - Film

pdfState Funeral: Order of Service, Scots' Church, Melbourne 19 May 197854.45 KB

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Australian Events

Posted in 1978

  • HRH Princess Alexandra and Sir Edward Hughes at the official launch of the Sir Robert Menzies Memorial FoundationSir Robert Menzies Memorial Trust is formed.
  • Northern Territory is given self-government.
  • Pat O'Shane becomes the first Aboriginal law graduate and first Aboriginal barrister.
  • "A study of the ethnic origins of the Australian population in 1978 found that 77% of people had British origins, with 45% coming from England. Other major groups of ethnic origin were the Italians, Germans, Dutch and Greeks. Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders accounted for 1% of the population."
    The Macquarie Book of Events, 1983 p 71.
  • Parliament approves new Parliament House.
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World Events

Posted in 1978

  • St Peter's Square, Vatican CityWorld's first test tube baby is born in Britain.
  • Middle East peace talks begun in 1977 between Israel and Egypt, cease.
  • Pope John Paul I is elected but dies suddenly in September after a reign of 33 days. Polish cardinal is elected as Pope John Paul II, the first non-Italian Pope since 1522.
  • China and Japan sign a ten-year peace and friendship treaty.