Great Australian Leaders 1 HOW DID WE CHOOSE THIS LIST OF 20 GREAT AUSTRALIAN LEADERS? We did not set out to identify the twenty most famous Australians nor the twenty Australians that have had the greatest influence. Rather, we wanted to focus on leaders who have in some way impacted the lives of Australians as a direct result of their leadership qualities, not just their achievements. We have chosen to not focus on modern era politicians as they are widely publicised and critiqued already. The only politicians included are a small group of men and women who have made a particularly unique contribution that differs to that of those normally in their role. The leaders in this book are from a variety of fields and each successfully embodies four key values: 1. GROWTH A leader who does not strive for a one off accomplishment but continually develops themselves and seeks new opportunities. 2. PEOPLE A leader who focuses their efforts on valuing and serving others. 3. RELATIONSHIP A leader who makes their contribution alongside others. 4. INTEGRITY A leader who displays truthfulness and honesty at all times. 1 CONTENTS About The National Young Leaders Day 3 Sir Edmund Barton 4 Sir Donald Bradman 7 Caroline Chisholm 10 Sir Ian Clunies Ross 13 Margaret Court 16 Edith Cowan 19 Alfred Deakin 22 Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop 25 John Flynn 28 Vida Goldstein 31 Fred Hollows 34 Eddie Mabo 37 Sir Douglas Mawson 40 Sir John Monash 43 Sir Douglas Nicholls 46 Sir Gustav Nossal 49 Dame Roma Mitchell 52 Dick Smith 55 Jim Stynes 58 Steve Waugh 61 Bibliography 64 2 ABOUT THE NATIONAL YOUNG LEADERS DAY Where students get up close to great Australian leaders The National Young Leaders Day is an annual one-day event in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, run by Halogen Australia. Australia’s most influential leaders inspire students by sharing from their own leadership journey. Speakers include leaders from business, sport, politics, community service, science and the arts. Every year the National Young Leaders Day features Australia’s most inspirational voices and role models, allowing students to learn first-hand from leaders that would normally be difficult for schools and students to access on their own. The event is held in Australia’s biggest convention and entertainment centers, supported by entertainment and activities that create a vibrant and uplifting environment. Founded in 1997, this is Australia’s largest and most established youth leadership event, endorsed by the Prime Minister, State Premiers, and key education bodies. School groups attend, usually with students in leadership roles, or those aspiring to be leaders. Registration is also open to individuals and community groups. For more information visit www.halogen.org.au 3 Great Australian Leaders 4 Great Australian Leaders SIR EDMUND BARTON THE FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA The story of Sir Edmund Barton began when he was born in Sydney in 1849. He is described as having a fortunate start to life, as although his family had to support nine children, Edmund possessed a handsome appearance, a talent for cricket and a generous intellect. Barton studied law at the University of Sydney where he received numerous prizes and awards and also met Jeanie Ross, whom he married. As a young man he entered politics, gaining a place in the New South Wales lower house in 1879. For the next twenty years Barton juggled a career in politics with the need to earn additional income by working as a lawyer. This time in Barton’s life coincided with a push from many angles for Australia to federate. Barton himself was both an early and important figure in the campaign for the Australian states to form a new country. Using his skills as a lawyer, Barton was a key contributor in the writing of the Australian constitution and was the leader of a gathering knownas the 1897-98 Federal Convention. Barton is described as a person who did not always shine as a speaker, but was dedicated and committed in his work and the goal of federation that he was enthusiastic to achieve. It could be said that Barton’s most significant leadership contribution was the work that he did to guide Australia to becoming a Commonwealth country, not the years that he would later spend as prime minister. At one point in his political leadership Barton resigned from his role as a party leader. He believed it was more important for him to focus his attention on ensuring that the British parliament pass the bill for Australian federation. During these important years Barton worked closely with Alfred Deakin, whose story is also written in this book. The first of January 1901 was an exciting day for those in the Australian colonies, as it was the first day of the new country which Barton would lead as prime minister. A large ceremony was held in Sydney’s Centennial Park. Barton’s vision of a new country was achieved and he was quoted as saying “This is the first time in history where there has been a continent for a nation and a nation for a continent.” The first task for Barton and his ministers was to organise the first federal elections. Following this, a whole system needed to be created for the new country to function. Barton held his prime ministerial office until 1903 when he 5 Sir Edmund Barton made the decision to resign and he joined the bench of the high court. It is suggested that Barton’s most valuable contribution was in fact the many years of effective leadership which Barton showed in establishing the federation of Australia, not actually his prime ministerial duties. Barton died suddenly in 1920 and is well remembered through his legacy of the Australian federation. KEY THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM SIR EDMUND BARTON’S LEADERSHIP: 1. MANY GREAT THINGS TAKE TIME. Barton committed approximately ten years towards one decision being made. 2. DON’T BE AFRAID TO STEP ASIDE. If you’re not the right person, let somebody else lead. Barton did this on more than one occasion and he is one of only three prime ministers who left the position through making this choice themselves. 3. PLAN WELL. Barton focussed much of his leadership on laying out clear plans for the federation of Australia. We still benefit today from this attention to detail. 6 Great Australian Leaders 7 Great Australian Leaders SIR DONALD BRADMAN AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST EVER CRICKETER The story of Sir Donald Bradman is the story of Australia’s greatest ever cricketer. This achievement does not automatically make Bradman a great leader but as we look behind the reason for his success we see a number of leadership qualities revealed. Bradman was born in 1908 in the town of Cootamundra, New South Wales, but soon moved with his family to the town of Bowral. He excelled in sports from a young age and demonstrated talent in tennis, rugby, athletics and his greatest passion, cricket. His commitment to cricket was demonstrated by him practising with a stick instead of a bat and a small golf ball instead of a cricket ball. At the age of twelve he first scored one hundred runs for his team- the goal of any quality batsmen. At the age of seventeen his name first appeared in the Sydney newspapers when his large scores reached an innings of three hundred runs. The selectors for the New South Wales cricket team invited the young Bradman to Sydney where he made an impression by consistently scoring innings of one hundred runs. Bradman’s amazing displays earned him a spot in the Australian Test team in 1928 as a twenty year old. Unfortunately Bradman was unsuccessful in his first Test match and was dropped from the team. Soon after he was given another opportunity and this time Bradman become the youngest player to score a century in a Test match. His consistent success meant that Bradman was continually selected for the Australian team, where he continually broke all kinds of batting records. The physical demands on Bradman were not always easy for him to deal with. He needed to have short rests away from the game and on multiple occasions suffered from ill health. In 1934, he needed to take the year off, away from the game, after he nearly died from an attack of peritonitis when touring in England. In 1937 Bradman became the captain of the Test team, often considered as the most respected sports leadership position in Australia. He led by example in every way and was a great role model off the field for both his team mates and the many young Australian’s that looked up to him. On the field, he set a standard that had never been seen before. 8 Sir Donald Bradman Soon after, he enlisted with the air force for the war, but amazingly they declared his eyesight medically unfit. He returned to cricket and continued to succeed until he retired in 1948. Bradman needed only four runs in his last innings to be the first person to have an average score of one hundred. Unfortunately he was dismissed without scoring yet Bradman insists that he was beaten by a superior performance. Instead of disappearing from cricket Bradman continued his involvement as a cricket selector, journalist, commentator and leader of the cricket board for thirty years. In 1949 Bradman was knighted for his services to the game of cricket. KEY THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM SIR DONALD BRADMAN’S LEADERSHIP: 1. RESOURCEFULESS. Bradman learnt to play cricket without owning a cricket bat.