Men and Women of Australia He's 91

Men and Women of Australia He's 91

So ran the headline in the Adelaide Advertiser on Wednesday 11th July, Gough Whitlam's 91st Birthday. One of the many headlines that trumpeted the latest achievement of the 'elder statesmen of Australian politics'.

To mark the occasion Mr Richard Pratt AC and Mrs Jeanne Pratt AC graciously hosted a luncheon at Raheen, their elegant family home with family and friends of Mr Whitlam.

It was fitting setting as Mr Whitlam was born in Kew not far from Raheen. As he quipped on the day, "When I told [Whitlam speechwriter and author] Graham Freudenberg that we would be here today, he said 'Good! Back to Bethlehem'

The bonhomie of the gathering was evident with even members of the assembled media lining up in turn to have their own photos taken with Gough.

There was a further touch befitting the venue (Raheen was for many decades the residence of the supreme Catholic tactician, Archbishop Daniel Mannix) and the world of Australian politics. Unbeknown to those attending it proved to be one of the last occasions Steve Bracks attended as Premier of Victoria, with his then Treasurer and successor John Brumby also present. Mr Bracks offered birthday congratulations and formally launched the limited edition of the 1972 ALP Policy Speech.

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View photos of birthday celebrations.