1940. Wartime Australia. Key members of Menzies’ government die in a fiery plane crash. What went wrong and what happened next? In August 1940 Australia had been at war for almost a year when a Hudson bomber – the A16-97 – carrying ten people, including three cabinet ministers, crashed into a ridge near Canberra. Over the next twelve months, it became clear that the passing of Geoffrey Street, Sir Henry Gullett and James Fairbairn had destabilised Robert Menzies’ wartime government. As a direct but delayed consequence, John Curtin became prime minister in October 1941.
Join us as author Andrew Tink tells an engrossing and dramatic tale of a little-known aspect of Australia’s political history.
This event is hosted by the NSW Fabians, in conjunction with the Sydney Society for the Study of Labour History.
WHEN
October 15, 2014 at 6:00pm
2 hrs
Level 7, 191-199 Thomas Street