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.
Air Disaster Canberra: The Plane Crash that Destroyed a Government
Wednesday - 15 October, 2014 - 06:00 PM
Level 7, 191-199 Thomas Street - Haymarket, Australia
