Sydney hosts the Empire Games, the forerunner to the Commonwealth Games

(April) Prime Minister Lyons dies in office and is replaced by Robert Menzies and the first Menzies Government

A team of scientists, under Howard Florey, develops penicillin

3 Divisions of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force join operations in the Mediterranean. After initial successes against Italy, 2nd AIF suffered defeat against the Germans in Greece, Crete, and North Africa.

Feb, Fall of Singapore. 15,000 Australians become Prisoners of War of the Japanese

Australia wins its first Oscar, with cinematographer Damien Parer honoured for Kokoda Front Line! documentary.

Cowra breakout, mass escape of Japanese prisoners of war occurs in NSW.

the Liberal Party of Australia is established with Robert Menzies as its first leader.

Minister for Immigration Arthur Calwell introduces the major post-war immigration scheme

Minister for External Affairs, Dr. H.V. Evatt is elected President of the United Nations General Assembly.

Construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme begins

1950-53 - Australian troops are sent to the Korean War to assist South Korea.

Australia signs the ANZUS treaty with the United States and New Zealand

First nuclear test conducted in Australian territory by the United Kingdom off the coast of Western Australia.

Elizabeth II and Prince Philip make a royal visit; the Soviet diplomat Vladimir Petrov defects, leading to the Petrov Affair and another split in the Labor Party

Democratic Labor Party splits from Australian Labor Party over concerns of Communist influence in the labour movement

Television in Australia is launched.

The song 'Wild One' makes Johnny O'Keefe the first Australian rock'n'roller to reach the national charts.

Robert Menzies' Commonwealth Electoral Act provided that all Indigenous Australians should have the right to enrol and vote at federal elections, removing remaining restrictions applying in QLD, WA and NT.

The Beatles tour Australia;

Indigenous Australians gain right to vote in state of Queensland

The ban on the employment of married women in the Commonwealth Public Service is lifted;

Decimalisation; on 14 February the Australian currency is changed to dollars and cents, with the Australian Dollar replacing the Australian pound.

Large areas of Hobart and south-eastern Tasmania are devastated by bushfires on 7 February that kill 62 people;

Australia signs the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; Aboriginal boxing champion Lionel Rose defeats Masahiko 'Fighting' Harada in Japan to become the world bantamweight champion; Australia's first liver transplant operation is performed in Sydney;

French conceptual artist Christo 'wraps' Little Bay in Sydney;

More than 200,000 people participate in the largest demonstrations in Australian history, against the Vietnam War

Neville Bonner becomes the first Aborigine to become an Australian Member of Parliament;

The Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission rules that women doing the same job as men have the right to be paid the same wage.

The Sydney Opera House is opened

Darwin is devastated by Cyclone Tracy

(November) A constitutional crisis occurs when Malcolm Fraser blocks supply, bringing the nation to a standstill until Governor-General John Kerr dismisses Prime Minister Gough Whitlam on the 11.11.75. Fraser wins elections and becomes Prime Minister

The Australian Capital Territory legalises homosexuality between consenting adults in private.

Advance Australia Fair becomes Australia's official national anthem

The First Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras kicks off in Sydney

Australian women win the right to maternity leave

Baby Azaria Chamberlain disappears from a campsite at Uluru (Ayers Rock), reportedly taken by a dingo. The Coalition wins the 1980 Australian federal election.

A referendum is held in Tasmania to vote for whether or not the Franklin Dam should be built.

Commonwealth Games held in Brisbane. The National Gallery of Australia is opened.

Australia wins the America's Cup;

Advance Australia Fair is proclaimed as Australia's national anthem.

The government grants the freehold title of a large area of land in central Australia, including prominent landmarks Uluru and Kata Tjuta, to the Mutitjulu people, who in turn give them a 99-year lease.

The Australia Act removes the right of appeal from State courts to the British Privy Council, making the High Court the final court of appeal in Australia. The Act also removes all remaining rights of the UK parliament to pass law for Australia. Anita Cobby murder in Sydney. Russell Street Bombing in Melbourne. Crocodile Dundee is released in Australia.

Hoddle Street Massacre kills 7 victims and injures 19,

Australia celebrates its bicentenary, with large celebrations and major funding for capital works projects. The new Parliament House opens. Federal referendums on 4-year parliamentary terms, recognition of local government and other issues are defeated. Brisbane hosts World Expo '88.

Newcastle Earthquake kills 13 people.

Royal Australian Navy deployed in preparation for the First Gulf War.

Prime Minister Bob Hawke is replaced by Paul Keating.

The High Court delivers the Mabo Decision, which rules that indigenous native title does exist. This effectively extinguishes the concept of terra nullius.

Keating defeats John Hewson in the 1993 federal election;

The Northern Territory legalises voluntary euthanasia, but it is overruled by the federal government when Liberal MP Kevin Andrews proposes the Euthanasia Laws Bill 1996

The High Court hands down the Wik Decision, which holds that indigenous native title can survive the granting of pastoral leases.

Expelled Liberal MP Pauline Hanson forms the One Nation Party

A major strike results when Patrick Stevedores attempt to introduce non-union labour to reduce the influence of the Maritime Union of Australia

Both houses of the federal parliament pass a motion signifying both recognition of and regret at past treatment of indigenous Australians.

Died at 12.02 am Eulogy as read by Marlene's son-in-law, Jason Potts at Marlene's funeral. On Wednesday night, when I told the children that their Grandmother had fallen asleep and was not likely to wake up they were each affected in their own way. They all felt the same loss, they just showed it differently. Marlene had her own way of showing her love for her family and friends. She loved to provide for her grandchildren, her daughter and myself. You had to be careful what you said around Marlene because if you mentioned you needed some thing she would instruct you to put it on her card and get it. I found that this was one of the ways Marlene said, "I love you". Marlene was a strong and an often-feisty Scot with a great personality. She always knew her mind and often spoke it whether it be right or wrong. And in these days of political correctness I admired her for it. If Marlene and I disagreed on an issue she would some times appear to be insensitive in regard to my point. A week or so later we would discuss the issue again and I would discover that my judgment of her was incorrect. Although Marlene spoke her mind, what was in her heart would often be different. She would never hold a grudge. Some times it would annoy me when I turned up the next day and she would act like nothing had happened. In the 15 years I have known Marlene I have never met a person who would speak badly of her. On occasions she rang my work and spent 15 to 20 minutes on the phone with the receptionist she had never met. When I was talking to the receptionist later, I would be asked, " ... is that lovely Scottish lady really your mother-in-law?" There were a couple of things you could always be assured of getting on a visit with Marlene ... a coffee, chocolate, a beer or wine and a good chat. Occasionally Marlene would reminisce of Scotland at her old party's blaring Andy Stewart's numbers like "Donald where's your troosers". She loved her crosswords and was one of the more intelligent ladies I have met. I admired and liked to be around. Another idiosyncrasy was that in Marlene's house every thing had it's place and there was a place for every thing. She was always very house proud. Although she loved the things she had gathered over time she was also very generous. She gave away things willy nilly to any one she felt needed help. . Marlene would always get the job done. Steve mentioned to me that at any time he didn't get around to doing a job Marlene would virtually drag some one in off the street to do it for her. She was indeed forceful. Marlene was known for her quotes that she would role out every now and then, for example "I wish I had a penny more than I could spend", "If wishes were horses beggars would ride" and "touch wood - with the tap of her head" for good luck. She was different, direct and had a great sense of humour. She had reason to complain but never did, even though she had been through some quite horrific operations. She would laugh and say, "For a woman who has never had a cold in her life look what I have had to put up with" I would like to read from a favourite scripture of mine from the New Testament. Paul is speaking to the Christians in Thessalonica. 1Thes 4:13-16 13 And now, dear brothers, I want you to know what happens to a Christian when he dies so that when it happens, you will not be full of sorrow, as those are who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and then came back to life again, we can also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him all the Christians who have died. 15 I can tell you this directly from the Lord: that we who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a mighty shout and with the soul-stirring cry of the archangel and the great trumpet-call of God. And the believers who are dead will be the first to rise to meet the Lord. (TLB) Marlene was much loved and will be greatly missed by all those who knew her and loved her. She was unique and already leaves a big void in the family.

Steve returned to Creetown, Scotland and buried Marlene's ashes wth her grandparents.