Edith Cowan becomes the first woman elected to an Australian parliament

The Smith Family charity is founded in Sydney

Vegemite is first produced

The first Miss Australia contest is held

The tenth parliament is formally opened in Canberra, finalising the move to the new capital

Bert Hinkler makes the first successful flight from Britain to Australia, and Charles Kingsford Smith makes the first flight from the United States to Australia. The Shrine of Remembrance is built.

Western Australia celebrates its centenary

Batsman Don Bradman scores a record 452 not out in one cricket innings

Sir Douglas Mawson charts 4,000 miles of Antarctic coastline and claims 42% of the icy mass for Australia

The Sydney Harbour Bridge opens

Western Australia votes at a rerefendum to secede from the Commonwealth, but the vote is ignored by both the Commonwealth and British governments

The last Thylacine dies

The radio series Dad and Dave begins

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

Service Record Name STRACHAN, FREDRICK BAYLEY Service Australian Army Service Number QX35618 (Q7619) Date of Birth 29 Jul 1921 Place of Birth TEXAS, QLD Date of Enlistment 29 Sep 1941 Locality on Enlistment CLAYFIELD, QLD Place of Enlistment GATTON, QLD Next of Kin STRACHAN, IRENE Date of Discharge 6 Dec 1945 Rank Sergeant Posting at Discharge 11 MOTOR REGIMENT WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display Prisoner of War No

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.

1958-59, 1973-74

1959 - 1962

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

1974 - 1985

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.

27th Olympic Games held in Sydney.

Australia celebrates centenary of Federation;

2002 Bali bombings, the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia, killing 202 people, (including 88 Australians.

Australian military deployed to Iraq War to oust the Saddam Hussein regime for serial non-compliance with the 1991 Gulf War Peace Treaty.

A bomb explodes outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, Asia.

Sydney beachside suburb of Cronulla sees a protest against the alleged bashing of a beach lifeguard, developing into an alcohol-fuelled, racially-charged riot.

The Commonwealth Games are held in Melbourne.

Sydney hosts APEC summit.

Kevin Rudd leads bi-partisan Parliamentary apology to the Stolen Generation.

Black Saturday: Massive bushfires swept across Victoria, resulting in 173 fatalities.

Kevin Rudd challenged and replaced as leader of the Labor Party by Julia Gillard;

State of Queensland affected by major flooding followed by Cyclone Yasi.

Somehow these dates have a nice ring to them. 100 years and in cricketing parlance - Dad's first ton. Well done Dad! He was affectionately known as ‘Beau’. I asked him where the nickname came from, he laughed and said 'probably to do with Beau Brummel, as I used to wear a cravat'. (Younger people can Google Beau Brummel.) Dad was born in Texas, QLD on 29th July, 1921 and grew up on a large sheep property in Bonshaw, north west NSW. Here he loved farm life, riding his favourite horse, and cricket. Beau was one of three children to Frederick (Poppy) and Edith (Nana) Strachan; the other two siblings being Joan and Betty. I understand from a reliable source that Dad was thoroughly spoilt by his two sisters and Nana. Thus he was always spruced up and well decked out - probably a reason he was able to snaffle Mum. Dad and Mum’s eyes met across the dance floor at the Town Hall in Texas. It was love at first sight and the start of a three month whirlwind courtship which ended in them eloping to Melbourne and getting married on the 25th July, 1940. Dad was in the Army at this stage and was promoted to Sergeant and ended up training troops all over the country. Mum would follow Dad to wherever he was posted, and by that stage with Steve in tow. At war’s end in 1945, they purchased a 3 acre property in Richmond, NSW, where they first set up house and home. Even tho’ Dad subsequently had a number of moves, 59 Paget Street was really the spiritual home of the Strachans. There he proceeded to set up a quality poultry farm where he was innovative and progressive. This was borne out by the number of prizes he received for his chooks and egg laying at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College and Hawkesbury shows. Dad was a typical bush carpenter and could turn his hand to anything. He always seemed to be adding to the home or building extra sheds. He built sheds all over the property to house his chooks. The farm was a menagerie including, at different times, chooks, horses, goats, cows, dogs, cats and the odd black snake. The farm was a safe haven where young boys could get into mischief and run wild. We boys just loved it! Dad battled at times with the economies of farming; and after subdividing Paget Street he moved to a 7 acre property at Castlereagh, which was a duck processing business. Following this, he moved to Forbes, also in NSW. Here he developed and subdivided 60 acres, which cleared him of any problems and set him up for his final purchase of Allimbie, a 33 acre property on the outskirts of Crookwell, NSW. Allimbie in some respects, was ideal for Dad. He completely improved the property, planted poplar trees along the driveway, fenced the acreage into paddocks, irrigated from a bore as well as resurrecting old barns and building dams. he finally got his sheep and favourite dog Topsy, completing a full circle from sheep, the aberration of chooks and back to sheep. Dad was always a frustrated sheep farmer and was finally able to realise his dream of running sheep and developing fine wool. He was happy, and more especially Mum was happy! Happy wife, happy life!! As Mum’s health deteriorated, Dad cared for her as well as maintaining the farm. He did need all his stamina to do both. There was an 8 years age difference between Mum and Dad, and one day I jokingly said to Mum “I think you’re a bit of a cougar”. Mum laughed and said “I made a great choice with no regrets”. Mum passed peacefully away in early 2001. Dad was ambitious, willing to learn and ahead of his time, especially when it came to cricket. He took young teenage teams under his wing and they came to win finals from the third grade up, plus finally winning first grade which had never been done before. He was the driving force in getting Hawkesbury into first grade cricket as well as developing the sporting / cricket complex in Bensons Lane. He even has a pavillion named after him. He was “Mr Cricket” for years. As Dad plunged headlong into the politics of cricket, I reckon he learned a lot about himself, especially when it came to speeches. The speeches had developed a certain quality of depth and meaning pertaining to whatever subject. We, in the family, all became quite proud of the way he handled himself on his feet. He taught his three sons to play cricket. I think he felt lucky to have three boys rather than three girls - boys being easier to understand. The three boys became quite proficient in cricket, in their own way, because of Dad’s input. Dad loved cricket, and as he was wont to tell, he was called “the fastest thing in the Northwest". His love of cricket grew where he used to play all over Northwest country with bigger and older men. Having three sons enabled his cricket to flourish. He always backed us to the hilt, but with no favouritism. He must have gone through some terrible lows as his sons developed, but occasionally they did well which gave him a lift. Dad was a leader of men and this may have stemmed from his days in the Army as a Sergeant and trainer of men. I must admit he had a big voice at times! And so, he was a captain of teams, President of Richmond Cricket Club, and a representative of Hawkesbury District Association, of the Hawkesbury Cricket Council, and NSW Cricket Association, as well as being involved in the Richmond Sporting Club Ltd. When the cricketing summer arrived, Mum's dig at Dad would be - “looks like I’m to be a cricketing widow again!” There are so many memories I’d like to share with you...... - Dad leaping on Toby the horse at 59 Paget Street, showing off his horsemanship and riding skills - Dad hitting a six at Richmond Oval, the ball landing in the Main Street and bouncing into the local cafe - Dad waiting behind the May hedge with peppercorn switch for sons coming home late. Michael flying down the driveway with Dad in hot pursuit, Stephen stoically accepting punishment and Scott naturally missing out. - Dad treating me like a leper after I pranged the car just a week before going overseas. - Dad pumping car exhaust fumes into rat holes under chook sheds and groggy rats being chased by kids, dogs and adults. Crazy and hilarious! - Dad building two concrete cricket pitches. - Dad training Champ, a young Arab horse. Saddle slipped, horse panicked, broke away sending kids and chooks scattering everywhere, flattened young orange trees and shot up Londonderry Road for miles. - Dad killing a big red belly black snake which we put in a cricket bag to frighten kids. - Dad killing himself laughing when someone had to retrieve a cricket ball from the pen of an aggressive rooster. - Dad loved a good yarn and a laugh, and with tears in his eyes he would become quite hysterical if the yarn tickled his fancy. I’d like to comment on the fact, that after Mum passed away, Dad lived by himself for twenty years on the farm at Allimbie, and apparently he was never lonely. This was a testament to his strength, resilience and determination to see out his life on the farm. On the many occasions I visited Crookwell, I found the people I met respected Dad and held him in high esteem, which I found very heartwarming. A wonderful man, a wonderful father who led a rich and varied life. Dad died peacefully on 25th August 2021 at the Fred Ward Gardens Nursing Home, Canberra. We will all miss you Dad......RIP