Gough Whitlam was a hero to many and a giant of a man whose vision transformed Australia into a modern, fairer multicultural nation.
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Tributes poured in on Tuesday from both sides of politics for Australia's 21st prime minister who came to power in 1972 putting an end to the Menzies era.
In his first week in power he abolished conscription, brought the troops home from Vietnam and released all conscientious objectors from prison.
He then swiftly began to set in place major reforms including universal healthcare, free university education, Indigenous land rights and the Racial Discrimination Act.
He will be remembered for his commitment and courage towards change for the betterment of all Australians.
His dismissal three years later in 1975 shocked the nation and encouraged many to become politically active in the Australian Labor Party.
He told the nation at the time to "Maintain the Rage".
Mr Whitlam had strong connections with the Illawarra.
When he was first elected his electorate of Werriwa extended to Helensburgh.
He received an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Wollongong in 1989.
He also visited the area on many occasions during the 70s and 80s, supporting local ALP candidates during their election campaigns and helping with fundraisers.
Later, his son Nick Whitlam purchased the Mt Kembla Hotel, which he later sold.
Nick Whitlam still resides in the Illawarra with his family and is the current NSW Port Authority chairman.
Colin Markham, former member for Keira and Wollongong, said the day the Governor-General Sir John Kerr sacked Gough Whitlam was the day he and his wife Melissa decided to join the Australian Labor Party.
At the time he was working in the coal mines as an electrician.
"I was walking up the driveway after work and Melissa called out from the balcony that they had sacked Gough," recalled Mr Markham. "I said 'well that's it, we'd better join the Labor Party then'."
Mr Markham treasures a photograph of Gough and himself at the Sydney Opera House which was taken during an historic indigenous reconciliation event.
"I've had that picture up in our kitchen ever since," said Mr Markham.
"We became good mates. He was an incredible man. I remember the morning after I won the 95 election he rang me up and said: 'Good on you, Col, you've stuck up for Aboriginal people ever since you've been in Parliament and you keep gaining votes'. I felt it was pretty special for him to ring me up and tell me that. It's a sad day for all of us."
Member for Throsby Stephen Jones and the Member for Cunningham Sharon Bird have established condolence books on their websites for people who wish to leave messages for the Whitlam family.
Illawarra leaders pay tribute to Gough Whitlam
Sharon Bird - Member for Cunningham
Mr Whitlam made an outstanding contribution to the well-being and prosperity of our country and its care and concern for the most vulnerable.
My earliest political memory is of a large rally at Wollongong Town Hall that he addressed in 1976. There were tens of thousands of people there and we were fighting for a universal health system. I was a teenager but that has stayed with me my whole life. His legacy is extraordinary. He gave us confidence and optimism. He also mentored me during the 2004 election campaign. He told me to keep in mind each and every day the people I represent.
Noreen Hay - Member for Wollongong
So many people are beneficiaries of his achievements. It’s a never-ending list. We are so much better off for his life and his vision for Australia. He was an inspiration and a walking encyclopaedia. There wasn’t a topic that he didn’t know ample about.
Stephen Jones - Member for Throsby
Gough has been a towering figure in the Labor Party and for the country. He is a reference point in Australian politics. I’m of the generation which benefited from a whole heap of reforms he put in place. Wollongong University would not have grown without Whitlam’s reforms. It just wouldn’t have happened because people in the region wouldn’t have been able to afford to go to university.
David Campbell - former Lord Mayor of Wollongong and Member for Keira
I remember being at high school when Gough was elected and there was this sense of hope and excitement. It was a pretty special time. I also recall the dismissal and the sense of shock that a democratically elected Prime Minister could be dismissed. I had the opportunity to meet him several times and found him to be genuine and larger than life, as was his public persona. He was an Australian icon both politically and historically.
Anna Watson - Member for Shellharbour
Gough Whitlam was a transformative prime minister who led the nation during a tumultuous time in Australian history. His legacy for both Australia and the Australian Labor Party is enduring. He was a courageous political leader who dared to challenge every Australian. Gough Whitlam was a hero to my generation – a man who stopped an unpopular war and ended the draft. Migrants feel welcome, he focused on our cities and reached out to other parts of the world.
Ryan Park - Shadow Minister for Education and Member for Keira
Gough Whitlam will forever be remembered as the architect of modern Australia. His three years in Government were marked by truly remarkable social, economic and political changes. His legacy of ending conscriptions, establishing our relations with China, creating universal healthcare and making tertiary education available for more young people have rightly lived on over the generations. The reforms of the Whitlam Government are all things that we take for granted today. Australia has lost an inspiration, and Labor has lost a hero of our movement.
Arthur Rorris, South Coast Labour Council secretary
For those of us in the Labour movement who struggle for economic, social and political reform in the interests of the working people of Australia there has never been a greater leader to draw inspiration from than Gough Whitlam. Growing up in a migrant family, the Whitlam era was the first time that we truly felt accepted in Australian society and in my uncle’s case he was finally allowed to become an Australian citizen. Gough combined intellect and courage with an unswerving commitment to social justice.
Russell Hannah - retired union official and Labor Party campaign director for the seat of Throsby
Gough was the reason I joined the Labor Party. He transformed people. He was the reason a lot of people my age became politically active. He had a vision. He politicised a whole generation. Colin Hollis, who was the member for Throsby, was Gough’s pipeline into Parliament. They were close. I became Colin’s campaign director for two elections and Gough helped us out. He was very popular, people came out of the woodwork to hear him speak. He had a great sense of humour.
Fred Moore - former trade union official
Gough was a man of the people. He paved the way for free university. He gave ordinary, working class kids the chance to become professionals. There are many doctors out there now who would not have become doctors if not for him. He was a great role model. He revolutionised the system after Menzies. I remember we put on a great great fight when he was sacked.
Andy Gillespie - former Australian Workers’ Union president, Port Kembla
Gough was an icon. I don’t think we’ve had anyone who is as good an orator as he was. He had charisma. At 98 he had a good innings and a good, full life. He meant a lot to the Labor movement. He led us out of the darkness. I don’t think there will be anyone like him in terms of reform. He changed the social structure of Australia. When I was a young union official I had my picture taken with him and I still cherish it today. I was 23.