Robert Menzies

The Grand Old Man of Australian politics has seen his country change more than some can imagine.

Born in the Colony of Victoria in 1894 within his first twenty years, he saw the Federation and the beginning of the First World War. While he did not serve in anything more than the Melbourne University Rifles the war planted the seeds of his prominence. The postwar world was his for the taking. First elected to the Victorian Parliament in 1928, he rose quickly through the ranks ascending to the position of the first Deputy Premier. He retired in 1934 to run for Federal Parliament, winning the seat of Kooyong. His grand triumph came five years after his elections as he was elected Prime Minister. A few months later news came that Germany had invaded Poland and the Second World war began. As Australian troops fought in the grand Triumph in North Africa, throwing the Axis from the continent under the command of General Richard O'Connor, Menzies lost his position to John Curtin. He spent the rest of the war in opposition. When Frank Forde called an election in 1945, Menzies was able to sweep the Labour party out of Office with ease.

For twenty years he has been prime minister and now his age lies heavy on his shoulders yet he strides forward into the future. Unless a turn of fate makes him fall.