Significant People People Significant inAUSTRALIA’S HISTORY Contents in Significant People Significant People in Australia’s History profiles the people who brought HISTORY AUSTRALIA’S History makers 4 Boom times and the Great Depression 5 about important events or changes to Australian society through their in A snapshot of history 6 knowledge, actions or achievements. Explore the fascinating story of Australia, AUSTRALIA’S HISTORY Hudson Fysh, Pilot 8 from its ancient Indigenous past to the present day, through the biographies of Ross Smith and Keith Smith, Pilots 9 Raymond Longford and Lottie Lyell, Film stars 10 these significant people. Charles Bean, Journalist 12 Edith Cowan, Politician 14 Volume 6 Stanley Bruce, Prime Minister 16 Each volume focuses on a particular Special features include: Jimmy Clements, Indigenous leader 17 period in Australia’s history and includes: 6 Volume John Flynn, Religious leader 18 ‘life facts’ mini timeline Charles Kingsford Smith, Pilot 20 Life Facts background information about the of each person’s life Alf Traeger, Inventor 21 1580 Born in Holland 1920 –1938 featured time period and achievements 1615 Becomes commander 22 David Unaipon, Writer a timeline of main events of the Eendrach 1920 Grace Cossington Smith, Artist 23 1616 Lands on the western ‘more about …’ Morecoast about of Australia ... illustrated biographies of a wide range – Margaret Preston, Artist 24 information boxes Dirk Hartog1618 Island Returns to the 1938 Netherlands on the Jack Davey, Radio star 25 of significant people Hartog had landed in an area that was about related Eendrach home to the Malkana people, near Boom Times Don Bradman, Sportsperson 26 a glossary of terms * events and places modern-day Shark Bay in Western Australia. Boom Times and the Great Depression Douglas Mawson, Explorer 28 The place where Hartog left the metal a comprehensive index. plate is now called Cape Inscription and Isaac Isaacs, Governor-General 30 ‘see also’ the island is called Dirk Hartog Island. and the Hubert Opperman, Sportsperson 31 cross-references to Joseph Lyons, Prime Minister 32 The nine volumes in the series are: relevant information Walter Lindrum, Sportsperson 33 in other entries. Great Michael Leahy, Explorer 34 R. M. Williams, Entrepreneur 35 Jack Lang, Politician 36 Depression John Bradfield, Engineer 37 Lores Bonney, Pilot 38 Elizabeth Kenny, Nurse 39 Nancy Bird Walton, Pilot 40 Eileen Joyce, Musician 41 Muriel Heagney, Union leader 42 Rees Barrett Rees Jessie Street, Activist 43 Daisy Bates, Journalist 44 William Cooper, Activist 45 Albert Namitjira, Artist 46 Glossary 47 Index 48 Glossary words When a word is written in bold, click on Rees Barrett it to find its meaning. History makers Boom times and the Great Depression Significant People in Australia’s History is about those men and women who have contributed remarkably to Australia’s identity and heritage. They are significant because they were pioneers in their field or because their knowledge, actions or achievements brought about important events or changes in Australian society. They represent the wide range of people who have contributed to the story Volume 6: Boom Times and the Great Depression 1920–1938 consists of the of Australia. biographies of the people who entertained Australians during the boom of the This series describes the history of Australia, from Indigenous beginnings to 1920s and inspired them during the depression of the 1930s. These significant modern-day Australia, through the life stories of these significant people. Each people include religious and political leaders, inventors, journalists, film stars, pilots, volume consists of biographies of people from a particular period in Australia’s sportspeople, artists, explorers and activists. history or descriptions of Indigenous Australian cultural groups. The roaring twenties and the lean thirties World War I had an enormous impact on Australian society. War memorials were built throughout the nation and Anzac Day became a time for remembering. Energy and confidence in Australia grew.T he 1920s were called the ‘roaring twenties’ because they brought great wealth. The aviation and film industries thrived in Australia. The 1930s, however, became the ‘lean thirties’ and were a time of great hardship. Australian people relied more on their working-class heroes for inspiration. In 1938, at the end of this period, world events were moving towards another world war. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Australians lived wherever they could find shelter, such as this family who lived in a cave in New South Wales. 4 5 A snapshot of history 1920–1938 After the sacrifices of World War I, Australia A Great Depression began in the United States Don Bradman, a great moved into a time of growth. Building projects in 1929, however, and it soon affected Australia. sporting champion of the started and created more employment. Radios, Unemployment increased and many people 1930s, is carried from the cricket field after a ‘talking pictures’ and planes brought the world were forced from their homes. Men roamed record-breaking game. closer. Parliament House in Canberra finally bush tracks and railway lines looking for work. opened. Despite the hardship, great sporting champions brought people together and activists kept working for equal rights for all. 1920–1938 1920 Hudson Fysh begins Australia’s first airline, 1928 Christian minister John Flynn starts the first 1931 The Great Depression starts to affect 1933 Lores Bonney flies solo from Australia to Qantas. Ross Smith and Keith Smith tour Flying Doctor Service. Charles Kingsford Australia greatly. Jack Davey begins England. Australia as winners of the Great Air Race. Smith flies from the United States to working in radio, Douglas Mawson claims 1934 Elizabeth Kenny starts polio clinic in Australia across the Pacific. part of Antarctica for Australia and 1920s Raymond Longford and Lottie Lyell make Townsville, Queensland. Isaac Isaacs is appointed as the first their successful ‘Dad and Dave’ films. 1929 The Wall Street stock market crashes and Australian-born Governor-General. Hubert 1935 Nancy Bird Walton becomes first female the Great Depression begins in the United 1921 Historian Charles Bean publishes The Opperman is named Sportsman of the commercial pilot. States. The Flying Doctor Service uses Story of Anzac. Edith Cowan becomes Year in France. Alf Traeger’s pedal-generated radios. 1936 King George V dies. King Edward VIII the first woman elected to aparliament David Unaipon publishes Native Legends, 1932 Joseph Lyons becomes Australia’s tenth leaves the throne and passes it to his in Australia. Australia is given control of a collection of stories from different Prime Minister. Walter Lindrum sets the brother. Pianist Eileen Joyce conducts her former German New Guinea. Indigenous Australian communities. billiards world record. Michael Leahy first world tour. 1923 Stanley Bruce becomes Prime Minister of explores the New Guinea Highlands. 1930s Grace Cossington Smith and Margaret 1937 Muriel Heagney starts Council of Action a booming economy. Entrepreneur R. M. Williams starts his Preston make modernist art. for Equal Pay. 1924 Compulsory voting is introduced. The first leatherwork business. The ‘Bodyline’ Test 1930 Don Bradman sets new batting records 1938 Jessie Street attends the League of Australian radio stations start in Sydney. cricket series is played. during the Ashes cricket tour of England. Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Daisy 1927 Federal Government is transferred The Sydney Harbour Bridge, designed by Bates publishes The Passing of the to Canberra. Jimmy Clements is an John Bradfield, is opened by New South Aborigines. The Indigenous civil rights unplanned guest at the opening of Wales Premier, Jack Lang. Not long after, movement begins when William Cooper Parliament House. Lang is dismissed by the Governor. leads Day of Mourning. Albert Namatjira’s first exhibition is held in Melbourne. 6 7 Hudson Fysh Ross Smith and Keith Smith Pilot Pilots Wilmot Hudson Fysh, known as Fysh flew for the The Smith brothers won the Great company until 1930 Hudson Fysh, co-founded Qantas. and then became the Air Race, becoming the first people He led it through many changes full-time manager. to fly from Britain to Australia. He expanded the and it became one of the world’s Keith and Ross company in the face Life facts Smith grew up on major airlines. of stiff competition. sheep stations in He remained leader of Ross Smith Before enlisting to Born in South Australia, Life facts the company, through 4 December 1892 fight in World War I, Adelaide before going on to many changes, until 7 January 1895 Born in Fysh worked in 1915 Lands at Gallipoli, Turkey boarding school. Launceston, Tasmania he retired. the wool industry. 1917 Joins Australian Flying They became pilots 1915 Lands at Gallipoli, During the war, he Corps Turkey in World War I. Their landed at Gallipoli Fysh was the manager 1918 Flies from Cairo, Egypt, 1919 Drives overland from to Calcutta, India wartime experiences and later transferred of Australia’s first Longreach to Darwin airline. 1919 Wins Great Air Race helped them become Ross Smith (left) and Keith Smith (second from 1920 Starts Qantas with four to the Australian 1920 Tours Australia as Great aviation pioneers. left) stand in front of the plane that they flew from other men Flying Corps. While Air Race winner Britain to Australia. 1923 Becomes manager of flying in Palestine as Fysh described his time in Gallipoli during World War I: 13 April 1922 Dies in London, A race to Qantas a gunner, he earned ‘We lived like rats in their holes, and hung on to England They were immediately knighted and toured Retires as Chairman of Australia 1966 the Distinguished Australia in victory in 1920. Qantas our hillside with the enemy on one side and the Prime Minister Billy Flying Cross award. beach a few hundred yards away on the other.’ 6 April 1974 Dies in Sydney Life facts Hughes announced In 1922, the brothers planned a trip flying around He trained as a pilot a Great Air Race, the world.