Earle Page: key people

Earle Page was the Prime Minister of Australia in 1939.

Amery, Leopold

British Conservative parliamentarian 1911–45. Secretary of State for the Colonies and Dominions 1925–1929. A strong supporter of preferential terms of trade within the Empire and closer ties between Britain and the Dominions.

Beaverbrook, (Lord) William Maxwell Aitken

A Canadian, Beaverbrook became a member of Britain's House of Commons, and served as a Cabinet Minister. He became a newspaper magnate and was an influential campaigner for free trade within the British Empire during his career in Britain 1910–64.

Bell, (Sir) George

Member of the House of Representatives (Darwin) for the Nationalist Party 1919–22 and 1925–31, and for the United Australia Party 1931–43. Chairman of Committees (17 February 1932 – 7 August 1934) and Speaker in the House of Representatives (23 October 1934 – 19 November 1940) during the Lyons, Page and Menzies governments. Bell had been a soldier in the Second South African (Boer) War and in the 1914–18 war.

Bowden, Eric Kendall

Member of the House of Representatives (Nepean) for the Anti-Socialist Party 1906–10 and the Nationalist Party 1919–22. Nationalist Party Member of the House of Representatives (Parramatta) 1922–29. Minister for Defence (9 February 1923 – 16 January 1925) in the Bruce–Page government.

Bruce, (Lord) Stanley Melbourne

Member of the House of Representatives (Flinders) for the Nationalist Party 1918–29 and for the United Australia Party 1931–33. Treasurer (1921–23) during the Hughes government, Prime Minister 1923–29, Minister for External Affairs 1923–29, Minister for Health 1927–28, and Minister for Trade and Customs 1928. Bruce was honorary Minister in London 1932–33 during the Lyons government and High Commissioner in London 1933–45 during the Lyons, Page, Menzies, Fadden and Curtin governments.

Cameron, Archie Galbraith

Member of the House of Representatives (Barker) for the Country Party 1934–44, Liberal Party 1944–51, Liberal Country League 1951–54 and Liberal Party 1954–56. Postmaster-General (7 November 1938 – 26 April 1939) in the Lyons and Page governments, leader of the Country Party 1939–40, then joined the United Australia Party. Minister for Commerce and Minister for the Navy (14 March 1940 – 28 October 1940) in the first Menzies government, Speaker of the House of Representatives 1950–56 during the Menzies government. Cameron had been a South Australian parliamentarian 1927–34.

Carrodus, Joseph Aloysius

Head of the Department of the Interior 1935–50, Carrodus was first appointed to the new Commonwealth public service as a clerk in the Department of External Affairs on 11 August 1904. He served as private secretary to several Ministers for External Affairs including Deakin. After Army service in the 1914–18 war, Carrodus was head of the Papua New Guinea and Norfolk Island branch of the Department of Home and Territories in the 1920s.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 42.

Casey, (Lord) Richard Gardiner

Governor-General of Australia (22 September 1965 – 30 April 1969), during the governments of Robert Menzies, Harold Holt, John McEwen and John Gorton. As Australian government liaison officer in London 1924–31, Casey was a trusted adviser to Stanley Bruce, resigning in the cutbacks introduced by James Scullin in 1931. He was a United Australia Party Member of the House of Representatives 1931–40 (Corio) and a Liberal Party Member of the House of Representatives 1949–60 (LaTrobe). Casey was assistant Treasurer (9 November 1934 – 3 October 1935), Minister in charge of development of Scientific and Industrial Research (29 November 1937 – 7 November 1938) in the Lyons government, and Treasurer (3 October 1935 – 26 April 1939) in the Lyons and Page governments. In 1941 John Curtin appointed Casey first Australian Minister to the United States, in 1942–43 he was a member of the British war cabinet, and from 1944 to 1946 Governor of Bengal. In the Menzies government, Casey was Minister for Supply and Development (26 April 1939 – 26 January 1940 and 19 December 1949 – 17 March 1950), Minister for Works and Housing (19 December 1949 – 11 May 1951), Minister for National Development (17 March 1950 – 11 May 1951), Minister in charge of the CSIRO (22 March 1950 – 4 February 1960), Minister for External Territories (26 April 1951 – 11 May 1951), and Minister for External Affairs (26 April 1951 – 4 February 1960). In 1960, he was given a peerage, and became Baron Casey of Berwick, Victoria and the City of Westminster.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 24.

Chamberlain, Arthur (Neville)

Conservative Member of the House of Commons 1918–40 and Britain's Prime Minister 1937–40 during the Lyons, Page, and Menzies governments. Neville Chamberlain was the son of Joseph Chamberlain, in 1916 like his father he was Lord Mayor of Birmingham.

Chapman, (Sir) Austin

Member of the House of Representatives (Eden–Monaro) for the Protectionist Party 1901–10, Deakin Liberal Party 1910–17, and Nationalist Party 1917–26. Minister for Defence in the first Deakin government (24 September 1903 – 27 April 1904), Postmaster-General (5 July 1905 – 30 July 1907) and Minister for Trade and Customs (30 July 1907 – 13 November 1908) in the second Deakin government. In the Bruce–Page government, he was Minister for Trade and Customs and for Health (9 February 1923 – 26 May 1924). Chapman had been a strong federationist as a member of the New South Wales parliament (Braidwood) 1891–1901.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 709.

Charlton, Matthew

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1910–28 (Hunter) and Leader of the Opposition 1922–28. Charlton was a delegate to the League of Nations in 1924. He had been a New South Wales parliamentarian 1903–10.

Chifley, Joseph Benedict (Ben)

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1928–31 and 1940–51 (Macquarie) and Prime Minister and Treasurer (13 July 1945 – 19 December 1949). Chifley was Minister for Defence 1931–32 in the Scullin government, Treasurer 1941–45 in the Curtin and Forde governments, and Minister for Postwar Reconstruction 1942–45.

Churchill, (Sir) Winston Spencer

Member of the House of Commons 1900–29 and Britain's Prime Minister 1940–45 and 1951–55, during the Menzies, Fadden and Curtin governments.

Cilento, (Sir) Raphael West

Director-General of Health and Medical Services in Queensland 1934–45 and Professor of Social and Tropical Medicine at the University of Queensland. Director for Refugees and Displaced Persons at the United Nations 1946–47.

Coles, Arthur William

Independent Member of the House of Representatives 1940–46 (Henty).

Collett, Herbert Brayley

Nationalist-United Australia Party Senator for Western Australia 1933–47. Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes (26 April 1939 – 13 August 1940 and 28 October 1940 – 26 June 1941), minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Repatriation (14 March 1940 – 13 August 1940 and 28 October 1940 – 26 June 1941), Minister Assisting the Minister for Repatriation (14 August 1940 – 28 October 1940), Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research (14 August 1940 – 28 October 1940), Minister in charge of War Service Homes (14 August 1940 – 28 October 1940) in the first Menzies government, Minister for Repatriation (26 June 1941 – 7 October 1941) in the first Menzies and Fadden governments.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 271.

Copland, (Sir) Douglas Berry

Pioneer Australian economist and foundation professor of commerce at the University of Melbourne 1924–44, Copland was adviser to the Commonwealth Development and Migration Commission in the 1920s. He chaired the committee of economists and state and federal treasury officials whose 1931 report to the Loan Council became the 'Premiers' plan' for economic management in the Depression, and was supported by John Maynard Keynes. Copland was a delegate to the League of Nations in 1933 and adviser to the economic conference in London that year, and Commonwealth prices commissioner 1939–45. He was an economic adviser to Prime Minister John Curtin 1941–45. Copland was appointed Australian Minister to China in 1946, and High Commissioner to Canada 1953–56. In between, Copland was founding vice-chancellor of the Australian National University 1948–53.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 167.

Cumpston, John Howard Lidgett

First Director-General of the Commonwealth Department of Health 1921–45.

Curtin, John Joseph

Labor Party Member of the House of Representatives 1928–31 and 1934–45 (Fremantle), Prime Minister (1941–45), Minister for Defence Coordination (1941–42), and Minister for Defence (1942–45).

Davidson, (Sir) Alfred

General Manager of the Bank of New South Wales (1929–45) who gave extensive evidence to the Monetary and Banking Systems at Present in Operation in Australia Royal Commission in 1935, advocating an independent central bank.

Fadden, Arthur William

Country Party Member of the House of Representatives 1936–49 (Darling Downs) and 1949–58 (McPherson). Prime Minister and Treasurer August – October 1941. Fadden was acting Prime Minister January–May 1941, Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation (14 August 1940 – 28 October 1940), minister without portfolio assisting the Treasurer (14 March 1940 – 14 August 1940), Minister Assisting the Treasurer (14 August 1940 – 28 October 1940), minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Supply and Development (14 March 1940 – 13 August 1940), Minister Assisting the Minister for Supply and Development (14 August 1940 – 28 October 1940), Treasurer (28 October 1940 – 29 August 1941) in the first Menzies government. He again served as Treasurer (19 December 1949 – 10 December 1958) in the second Menzies government.

Foll, Hattil Spencer

Senator for Queensland for the Nationalist Party 1917–31 and for the United Australia Party 1931–47, Minister in charge of War Service Homes (29 November 1937 – 7 November 1938), Minister for Repatriation (29 November 1937 – 26 April 1939), and Minister for Health (7 November 1938 – 26 April 1939) in the Lyons and Page governments. He served as Minister for the Interior (26 April 1939 – 29 August 1941) and Minister for Information (13 December 1940 – 29 August 1941) in the first Menzies and Fadden governments.

George VI, King

Son of George V and Queen Mary, as Duke of York opened first Parliament House Canberra in 1927, succeeded to throne on abdication of his brother Edward VIII, with Queen Elizabeth British monarch 1936–52.

Giblin, Lyndhurst Falkiner

Tasmanian government statistician (1919–23) and pioneer Australian economist, Giblin was professor of Economics at the University of Melbourne 1929–40, and a member of the Commonwealth Grants Commission (1933–36), the Commonwealth Bank Board (1935–42), and the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Finance and Economic Policy (1939–47). Giblin formed the Fabian discussion group in the Tasmanian Labor Party and was a Tasmanian parliamentarian 1913–16. He was a friend and advisor of Joseph Lyons.

Gibson, William Gerrand

Member of the House of Representatives 1918–29 and 1931–34 (Corangamite) and Senator for Victoria 1935–47. Postmaster-General in the Bruce–Page government (9 February 1923 – 22 October 1929). As the Victorian Farmers’ Union candidate, Gibson defeated Scullin in the Corangamite seat in 1918, and was a founding member of the Country Party in 1921.

Gowrie (Lord), (Sir) Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-Ruthven

Governor-General of Australia (23 January 1936 – 30 January 1945) during the Lyons, Page, Menzies, Fadden and Curtin governments. An experienced soldier, Lord Gowrie had been Governor of South Australia (14 May 1928 – 26 April 1934), and Governor of New South Wales (21 February 1935 – 22 January 1936).

Green, Francis (Frank) Clifton

Clerk of House of Representatives (23 March 1937 – 25 June 1955). A childhood friend of Joseph Lyons, Green had been Clerk Assistant in the Tasmanian parliament (1911–21), and in the House of Representatives Clerk of Papers (1921–25), Clerk of Records (1925–27), Clerk Assistant (1927–37).

Gullett, (Sir) Henry Somer

Nationalist-United Australia Party Member of the House of Representatives 1925–40 (Henty), Minister for Trade and Customs (24 November 1928 – 22 October 1929). In the Bruce–Page government, in the Lyons government Minister for Trade and Customs (6 January 1932 – 14 January 1933), and minister without portfolio directing negotiations for Trade Treaties (12 October – 11 March 1937). Gullett accompanied Stanley Bruce to the Imperial Economic Conference in Ottawa in 1932. In the first Menzies government Gullett was Minister for External Affairs (26 April 1939 – 14 March 1940) and Minister for Information (12 September 1939 – 14 March 1940), and Vice-President of Executive Council (14 March 1940 – 13 August 1940), Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research (14 March 1940 – 13 August 1940), and Minister Assisting the Minister for Information (14 March – 13 August 1940). Gullett had been an Australian war correspondent 1915–18. He was 1 of the 3 Cabinet ministers killed in an air crash at Canberra on 13 August 1940.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 530.

Harrison, (Sir) Eric John

Member of the House of Representatives (Wentworth) for the United Australia Party 1931–44 and for the Liberal Party 1944–56. Minister for the Interior (12 October – 9 November 1934) in the Lyons government. He served as assistant minister without portfolio assisting the Prime Minister and administrating External Territories (8 November 1938 – 26 April 1939) in the Lyons and Page governments, Post-master General (26 April 1939 – 14 March 1940), Minister for Repatriation (26 April 1939 – 14 March 1940), Minister for Trade and Customs (28 October 1940 – 7 October 1941) in the first Menzies and Fadden governments, Deputy Leader of the Opposition (4 April 1944 – 19 December 1949), Minister for Defence (19 December 1949 – 24 October 1950), Minister for Post-War Reconstruction (19 December 1949 – 17 March 1950), Australian Resident Minister in London (23 April 1950 – 30 March 1951), Minister for the Interior (24 October 1950 – 11 May 1951), Vice-President of the Executive Council (11 May 1951 – 24 October 1956), Minister for Defence Production (11 May 1951 – 24 October 1956), Minister in charge of Royal Visit (1954), Minister for the Navy (7 November 1955 – 11 January 1956), Minister for the Army (7 November 1955 – 28 February 1956) in the second Menzies government. In 1954 Harrison was Minister in charge of the Royal Tour of Australia, and was Australian High Commissioner in London (25 October 1956–1964).

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 648.

Hill, William Caldwell

Member of House of Representatives 1919–34 (Echuca) and Minister for Works and Railways (8 August 1924 – 29 November 1928) in the Bruce–Page government. Hill was a founding member of the Country Party in Victoria.

Hughes, (Dame) Mary

Prime ministerial spouse 1915–23.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 943.

Hughes, William Morris

Member of the House of Representatives 1901–17 (West Sydney), 1917–22 (Bendigo), 1922–49 (North Sydney) and 1949–52 (Bradfield). Hughes was a member of the Labor Party 1901–17, the Nationalist Party 1917–29, an ‘Independent Nationalist’ 1929–31, United Australia Party 1931–44, Liberal Party 1944–52. Prime Minister (1915–23), Hughes still holds the record as Australia’s longest serving parliamentarian. He was a Minister in the governments of Watson (1904), Fisher (1908–09, 1910–13 and 1914–15), Lyons (1932–39), Page (Attorney-General, Minister for Industry and Minister for External Affairs (7 April 1939 – 26 April 1939), Menzies (Attorney-General 26 April 1939 – 29 August 1941, Minister for Industry 26 April 1939 – 28 October 1940, Minister for the Navy 28 October 1940 – 29 August 1941), and Fadden (continuing as Attorney-General and Minister for the Navy 29 August 1941 – 7 October 1941). During the term of his own government, he also served as Attorney-General (27 October 1915 – 21 December 1921), Minister for Trade and Customs (29 September 1916 – 14 November 1916), Minister for External Affairs (21 December 1921 – 9 February 1923). As a New South Wales parliamentarian 1894–1901 Hughes was a founding member of the Labor Party in New South Wales. He became a founding member of the Nationalist Party in 1917, the United Australia Party in 1931, and the Liberal Party in 1945.

Hunter, James Atchison Johnston

Country Party Member of the House of Representatives 1921–40 (Maranoa).

Lang, John (Jack) Thomas

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1946–49 (Reid). Lang had been a New South Wales parliamentarian 1913–46 and was state Premier 1925–27. He formed a ‘Lang Labor’ splinter group that split the federal parliamentary party in the 1930s.

Latham, (Sir) John Greig

Nationalist-United Australia Party Member of the House of Representatives 1922–34 (Kooyong), Latham was Attorney-General (18 December 1925 – 22 October 1929) in the Bruce–Page government, and from 6 January 1932 – 12 October 1934 in the Lyons government. He was Leader of the Nationalist Party Opposition 1929–31 during the Scullin government. From 1935 until 1952, Latham was Chief Justice of the High Court, with an interval in 1940–41 when he was Australian Minister to Japan. Latham had been a member of the Australian delegation to the Versailles peace conference in 1919.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 148.

Lyons, Joseph Aloysius

Labor Member of the House of Representatives 1929–31 and United Australia Party member 1931–39 (Wilmot), Postmaster-General and Minister for Works and Railways 1929–31 in the Scullin government, Prime Minister 1932–39, Treasurer 1932–35, Minister for Health, and Repatriation 1935–36. Lyons had been a Tasmanian parliamentarian 1909–28 and was state Premier 1923–28.

Lyons, (Dame) Enid Muriel

United Australia Party-Liberal Party Member of the House of Representatives 1943–51 (Darwin), Vice-President of the Executive Council (19 December 1949 – 7 March 1951) in the Menzies government and the first female Minister in the federal government. Dame Enid Lyons was Prime ministerial spouse 1932–39.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 928.

Macdonald, Allan Nicholl

United Australia-Liberal Party Senator for Western Australia 1935–47. Minister without portfolio assisting the Treasurer (7 April 1939 – 26 April 1939) in the Page government.

McCay, (Sir) James Whiteside

Protectionist Member of the House of Representatives 1901–06 (Corinella) and Minister for Defence in the government of GH Reid (18 August 1904 – 5 July 1905). McCay triggered the fall of Chris Watson’s government on 12 August 1904, when his successful amendment to the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill demonstrated that Watson had lost majority support in the House of Representatives. He served on 2 select committees – on the Bonus for Manufactures Bill, and on Electoral Act Administration in 1904. McCay had been a Victorian parliamentarian 1895–1900. After losing his federal seat in the 1906 election McCay resumed a military career and was director of Intelligence 1909–13 and a major-general in the 1914–18 war. McCay was also a business adviser to the Bruce–Page government in the 1920s.

McEwen, John

Country Party Member of the House of Representatives 1934–37 (Echuca) 1937–49 (Indi), 1949–71 (Murray) and Party leader 1956–71. Prime Minister (19 December 1967 – 10 January 1968), Minister for Trade and Industry (19 December 1967 – 10 January 1968), Minister for the Interior (29 November 1937 – 26 April 1939) in the Lyons and Page governments, Minister for External Affairs (14 March 1940 – 28 October 1940), Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation (28 October 1940 – 7 October 1941) in the first Menzies and Fadden governments, Minister for Commerce and Agriculture (19 December 1949 – 11 January 1956), Minister for Trade (11 January 1956 – 18 December 1963), Minister for Trade and Industry (18 December 1963 – 5 February 1971) in the second Menzies, Holt and Gorton governments, Deputy Prime Minister (10 January 1968 – 5 February 1971) in the Gorton government.

McLachlan, Alexander John

Nationalist-United Australia Party Senator for South Australia 1926–44. Honorary Minister (29 August 1926 – 22 October 1929) in the Bruce–Page government. In the Lyons government, he was Vice-President of the Executive Council (6 January 1932 – 12 October 1934), Minister in charge of development of Scientific and Industrial Research (6 January 1932 – 29 November 1937), and Postmaster-General (12 October 1934 – 7 November 1938). As leader of the Australian delegation to the League of Nations in 1928, McLachlan defended Australia’s tariff, and signed the Kellogg–Briand pact on behalf of Australia.

McLeay, George

United Australia-Liberal Party Senator for South Australia 1935–47 and 1950–55. Vice-President of the Executive Council (7 April 1939–26 April 1939) in the Page government, Minister for Commerce (26 April 1939 – 14 March 1940), Minister for Trade and Customs (14 March 1940 – 28 October 1940), Postmaster-General (28 October 1940 – 26 June 1941), Minister for Repatriation (28 October 1940 – 26 June 1941) in the first Menzies government, Minister for Supply and Development (26 June 1941 – 7 October 1941), Vice-President of the Executive Council (28 October 1940 – 7 October 1941) in the first Menzies and Fadden governments, Minister for Shipping and Fuel (19 December 1949 – 17 March 1950), Minister for Fuel, Shipping and Transport (17 March 1950 – 11 May 1951), Minister for Shipping and Transport (11 May 1951 – 14 September 1955) in the second Menzies government.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 206.

Menzies, (Sir) Robert Gordon

United Australia Party-Liberal Party Member of the House of Representatives (Kooyong) 1934–66 and Prime Minister 1939–41 and 1949–66. During his terms as Prime Minister he also served as Treasurer (26 April 1939 – 14 March 1940), Minister for Defence Co-ordination (13 November 1939 – 29 August 1941), Minister for Trade and Customs (23 February 1940 – 14 March 1940), Minister for Information (14 March 1940 – 13 December 1940), Minister for Munitions (11 June 1940 – 28 October 1940), Vice-President of the Executive Council (7 March 1951 – 11 May 1951), Minister for External Affairs (4 February 1960 – 22 December 1961), Minister in charge of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (22 December 1961 – 16 February 1962). In the Lyons government, Menzies had been Attorney-General (1934–39) and Minister for Industry (1934–39). In the Fadden government, he was Minister for Defence Co-ordination (29 August 1941 – 7 October 1941). He had been a Victorian parliamentarian 1928–34.

Muscio, Mildred

A member of many political and welfare organisations including the National Council of Women (NSW) from 1922, the Lyceum Club and the Australian Red Cross Society, Muscio served on the Bruce–Page government’s Royal Commission on child endowment in 1928. She was an Australian delegate to the League of Nations in 1937 and received the Order of the British Empire in 1938.

Nock, Horace Keyworth

Country Party Member of the House of Representatives 1931–40 (Riverina). Minister without portfolio in charge of External Territories, minister without portfolio assisting the Prime Minister and minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for the Interior (14 March 1940 – 28 October 1940) in the first Menzies government.

Norman, (Baron) Montagu Collet

Governor of the Bank of England 1920–44; involved in re-negotiating payments on Australia’s overseas loans (1932–33) and later in financing Australia’s war effort.

Page, Ethel Esther

Prime ministerial spouse in 1939.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 945.

Paterson, Thomas

Country Party Member of the House of Representatives 1922–43 (Gippsland), Minister for Markets and Migration (18 June 1926 – 19 January 1928), Minister for Markets (19 January – 10 December 1928) and Minister for Markets and Transport (10 December 1928 – 22 October 1929) in the Bruce–Page government, and Minister for the Interior (9 November 1934 – 29 November 1937) in Lyons government. The ‘Paterson Plan’, a bounty for export butter, operated from 1926–33 giving £20 million to the depressed dairy industry.

Perkins, John Arthur

Nationalist Member of the House of Representatives 1926–29 and United Australia Party member 1931–43 (Eden-Monaro). Government Whip (1929), assistant Minister for Trade and Customs (6 January – 13 October 1932), Minister for the Interior (13 October 1932 – 12 October 1934), minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Trade and Customs (29 November 1937 – 7 November 1939), and Minister for Trade and Customs (8 November 1938 – 26 April 1939) in the Lyons, Page and first Menzies governments. He served as minister without portfolio administering External Territories (26 April 1939 – 14 March 1940) in the first Menzies government. Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly (Goulburn) November 1921 (casual vacancy) – January 1926.

Petrov, Vladimir

With Evdokia Petrov an intelligence officer at the Soviet Embassy in Canberra until both defected in 1954, triggering a Royal Commission into Soviet espionage in Australia.

Reid, Alan

A member of the parliamentary press gallery in the 1930s, Reid wrote for the Sydney Sun in the 1930s and 1940s, then for Frank Packer’s Daily Telegraph.

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano

Democratic Party President of the United States of America 1933–45.

Scullin, James Henry

Member of the House of Representatives 1910–13 and 1922–49 (Yarra). Prime Minister, Minister for External Affairs and Minister for Industry 1929–32, Treasurer 1930–31.

Shann, Edward Owen Giblin

A member of the Copland Committee who drafted the Premiers’ Plan in 1931. In 1932, Shann was a member of the committee on unemployment, and represented the Commonwealth government at the Ottawa Conference. Shann was Foundation Professor of History and Economics at the University of Western Australia 1913–34.

Shedden, (Sir) Frederick

Australia’s liaison officer in London 1932–36, and head of the Department of Defence 1937–56. Shedden accompanied Curtin, then Chifley, then Menzies on all major prime ministerial visits overseas in 1941, 1944, 1946, 1951 and 1955.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 320.

Stewart, Percy Gerald

Country Party member of House of Representatives 1919–31 (Wimmera), Minister for Works and Railways (9 February 1923 – 5 August 1924) in the Bruce–Page government, and president of the River Murray Commission 1923–24. Stewart had been a Victorian parliamentarian 1917–19 and was a foundation member of the Country Party. He turned the first sod on the Parliament House site in Canberra on 28 August 1923.

Stewart, (Sir) Frederick Harold

United Australia Party Member of the House of Representatives 1931–46 (Parramatta), Minister for Commerce (13 October 1932 – 9 November 1934) in the Lyons government. He served as Minister for Supply and Development (26 January 1940 – 28 October 1940), Minister for the Navy (13 November 1939 – 14 March 1940) in the first Menzies government, Minister for Health (26 April 1939 – 7 October 1941), Minister for Social Services (26 April 1939 – 7 October 1941), Minister for External Affairs (28 October 1940 – 7 October 1941) in the first Menzies and Fadden governments. Stewart founded Australian National Airways with Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm.

National Archives of Australia Commonwealth Person CP 228.

Street, Geoffrey Austin

United Australia Party Member of the House of Representatives 1934–40 (Corangamite), Minister for Defence (7 November 1938 – 13 November 1939) in the Lyons, Page and first Menzies governments, Minister for the Army (13 November 1939 – 13 August 1940) and Minister for Repatriation (14 March 1940 – 13 August 1940) in the first Menzies government. Street was killed in the Canberra air disaster on 13 August 1940.

Thompson, Victor Charles

Country Party Member of the House of Representatives 1922–40 (New England), minister without portfolio in the Lyons government assisting the Treasurer (29 November 1937 – 7 November 1938) and assisting the Minister for the Interior (1 February – 7 November 1938), and in the Lyons and Page governments assisting the Minister for Commerce (7 November 1938 – 26 April 1939).

Thorby, Harold Victor Campbell

Country Party Member of the House of Representatives 1931–40 (Calare), minister without portfolio in charge of War Service Homes (9 November 1934 – 29 November 1937), Minister Assisting the Minister for Repatriation (9 November 1934 – 1 September 1935), Minister Assisting the Minister for Commerce (1 September 1935 – 29 November 1937), Minister for Defence (29 November 1937 – 7 November 1938) in the Lyons government, Minister for Works and Minister for Civil Aviation (24 November 1938 – 26 April 1939) in the Lyons and Page governments. He served as Postmaster-General and Minister for Health (14 March 1940 – 28 October 1940) in the first Menzies government. Thorby had been a New South Wales parliamentarian 1922–30.

Tracey, Ray

Prime Minister’s driver and assistant at The Lodge 1930s–1950s.

Truman, Harry S

Democrat President of the United States of America 1945–53.