INTRODUCTION This is an interview with Eric Charlton for the Parliament of Western Australia Oral History Project and the J.S. Battye Library of West Australian History. Eric Charlton was born in Cunderdin, Western Australia, on 17 March 1938. He attended Tammin Primary School, Aquinas College and Wyalkatchem Convent. On leaving school Eric was employed on the family farm at Tammin. During the 1960s and 1970s, Eric expanded his farming interests, purchasing properties at Koorda and Eneabba. He became active in local affairs and was branch secretary and zone delegate to the PIA, later WA Farmers' Federation. He also held almost every position in the Tammin Football Club and was a delegate to the Avon Football Association. Eric Charlton joined the Country Party in 1964 and subsequently became Tammin Branch President, delegate to the Mount Marshall District Council, and delegate to both the State Council and State Conference. In this interview, Eric provides some valuable insights into the 1975 Country Party's withdrawal from its coalition with the governing Liberal Party and his own part in the reunification of the National Country Party and the National Party following the 1978 split. In November 1984 Eric Charlton was elected as MLC for Central Province and became the first member elected to State Parliament for the reconstituted National Party of Western Australia. During the interview Eric comments on several issues which were topical during his time in opposition. These include his thoughts on the divisions between urban and rural communities, fuel costs and tariff protection, electoral reform, Aboriginal funding, and the WA Inc Royal Commission. Following the election of the Court Government in February 1993 Eric Charlton was appointed Minister for Transport. In the interview he provides insights into his vision for Western Australia's transport system, the decision to close the Midland Railway Workshops, the restructuring of Westrail, the amalgamation of the Department of Transport and the Department of Marine and Harbours, and the implementation of a number of major road and rail infrastructure projects such as the Graham Farmer Freeway and the Perth to Mandurah Railway. He also offers an incisive interpretation of the 1995 and 1998 waterfront disputes. In June 2006 Eric Charlton was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the Western Australian Parliament, particularly through the reformation of the transport system and contributions to the Roadwise project. The series of interviews were conducted by Ron Chapman between 20 October and 12 November 2010 in digital format and extend over a period of 9 hours and 16 minutes. PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Wkive STATE LIBRARY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Transcript of an interview with CHARLTON, Eric b.1938 - ACCESS OPEN RESEARCH: OPEN PUBLICATION: To be advised of request to publish whole or part thereof until 2022. STATE LIBRARY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA - ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION DATE OF INTERVIEW: 2010 INTERVIEWER: Ron Chapman TRANSCRIBER: HANSARD-PARLIAMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA DURATION: 9 hours REFERENCE NUMBER: 0H3981 COPYRIGHT: Parliament of Western Australia and Library Board of Western Australia NOTE TO READER Readers of this oral history memoir should bear in mind that it is a verbatim transcript of the spoken word and reflects the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Parliament and the State Library are not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein; these are for the reader to judge. Bold type face indicates a difference between transcript and tape, as a result of corrections made to the transcript only, usually at the request of the person interviewed. FULL CAPITALS in the text indicate a word or words emphasised by the person interviewed. Square brackets [] are used for insertions not in the original tape. NOTE TO READER Readers of this oral history memoir should bear in mind that it is a verbatim transcript of the spoken word and reflects the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Parliament and the State Library are not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein; these are for the reader to judge. Bold type face indicates a difference between transcript and recording, as a result of corrections made to the transcript only, usually at the request of the person interviewed. FULL CAPITALS in the text indicate a word or words emphasised by the person interviewed. Square brackets [ ] are used for insertions not in the original tape. Page SUMMARY 1 Born 17 Mar 1938 in Cunderdin Hosp Great grandfather settled in Yorke Peninsula SA from England in 1845 2 Grandfather arrived in Kalgoorlie in 1900 in Tammin in 1908 with a family of 6 children. Charlton’s father married Kathleen (Skinner) in 1937n and he was born in 1938. Sister Carmel was born in 1945. She is married but has no children. Carmel has recorded a lot of music and still travels to country music festival in Tamworth NSW and works with schoolchildren in musical presentations. At the time of interview was developing CD for use by Education Dept 3 Early childhood was spent on the family farm and he developed a strong bond with an uncle who lived with the family and encouraged Charlton’s interest in football. His first 3 years of schooling were conducted by correspondence. 4 Remembered, as part of his childhood, riding in the cab of a truck with no doors or running board, helping in the shearing shed, kicking a football amongst the sheep, spending time with other farmers’ children. Initial farm size was 731 acres which was expanded to two and half thousand acres by 1950s. He learnt basic “do and don’ts” from his parents but his father was a reserved man with interest mainly on the farm. 5 Charlton’s parents did not hold strong political views and he was baptized as a Catholic which was the religion of both parents. 6 As Charlton attended the local primary school he spent one week of the school holidays being schooled by nuns of St Joseph convent in Kellerberrin and was very receptive to the principles being taught. During World War II his father attended a Listening Post with a group of volunteers to observe planes and report any unusual activity. 7 Charlton was not particularly close to his father and was more influenced by his mother and uncle. He attended Tammin Primary School at age, the school bus being a converted buttere delivery van funded by (Sir) Henry Cooke. 8 Maths was his favourite subject at primary school which he attended for 4 years. He attended Aquinas in 1950. 9 Although discipline was strict he enjoyed his time as a boarder. 10 Charlton was very homesick at first but made friendships which have lasted a lifetime. He remained in the top group at school but particularly enjoyed football and cricket. He was impressed by many of the brothers on the teaching staff. 11 Charlton left Aquinas in 1952 as his parents wanted him to attend a new convent school in Wyalkatchem with his sister. 12 Charlton would have preferred to remain at Aquinas but established good relations with the Presentation Sister who ran the convent school He was on a member of Aquinas Parent Council and both his sons attended Aquinas. A grandson was a student there. 13 He left school at 15 to work on the farm and maintained a strong interest in football. 14 Charlton started as a 15 yr old with Yorkrakine Football Club and won an award. He began playing regularly with Tammin Football Club a few years later and became involved with the committee at a player level. 15 Encouraged by committee members he helped develop a new grass oval. After ceasing to play he held various positions on the committee, including president for a number of years and coached for a year. He was also an umpire for a year but preferred to a part of the club and local community. His sons played junior football Tammin. He considered his participation as important for his own development as he learned to deal with a variety of people and understanding various aspects of managing an organization. He was made a life member. 16 Between 1964 – 72 the family owned a property at Koorda which was purchased by his father and uncle as a part of the original partnership. Charlton took over his uncle’s half- share after marrying in 1962. In 1966 he was allocated a block of land (with Jim King) south of Eneabba of approximately 5000 acres which they cleared at weekends. 17 Charlton married Evette Monk, a Perth based nurse, in 1962. His wife converted to Catholicism and they wed in St Mary’s Cathedral. 18 Their first child, Tammy, was born 26 October 1962. She is married with three daughters and runs Landmark agency in Mukinbudin. A son, Michael, was born in 1965 and was tragically killed in a car accident in December 1989 after having left university to return to farming. Their youngest child Gavin, born in 1969, was in the same accident but survived uninjured. Neither man was wearing a seatbelt. Michael returned to the farm after completing high school and lives there with his wife and 5 children. 19 At the time of interview Charlton had 8 grandchildren spread between Tammin Primary School and University. He purchased the family farm from his father, who was reluctant to sell, in 1972. The local manager of National Bank agreed to lend the money. 20 Charlton’s parents retired to Perth. He bought, in 1995, a nearby property, he had previously leased.