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.

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.

Noel Stuart Madill 21st July 1942 - 26th December 2004 (Eulogy given by Annette at his funeral 31st Dec. 2004) Together with my brothers Alan and Ian and my sisters Elaine and Marlene and our families we pay tribute to our brother Noel. Noel Stuart Madill was the 4th of 6 children, born on July 21st, 1942, at Cooinda Private Hospital, Warragul to David James and Catherine Sarah Madill, known to their family and friends as Jim and Kitty. Noel was born in the dark days of World War 2, but, into a loving family where we knew no fear, but only love and security. He was raised on a dairy farm in the then prominent dairying district of Drouin East, in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Although many things were rationed and coupons were required to buy many items, there was always enough and we had plenty of home grown vegetables, milk, butter, eggs and lamb. I remember the day Noel was born. Later I was told by Mother how Dad had driven her to Warragul, 6 miles away, during the night. They could only travel slowly as the car lights were very dim and partially covered due to war-time black-out regulations. Noel was a delightful child, fair with golden curly hair. I recall one day when he was about four years old, Nana Madill was staying, as she often did, and Mother and I overheard her say to him, “You're a gorgeous little boy. You're my favourite.” Mother said to me, “I don't like that!”, as she was never one to show favouritism, but it did indicate just how charming and cute and loveable he was. Several times during that pre-school period Noel was missing and we were all sent out to search for him. Once, after checking the dam and other hazardous places, he was found sound asleep sitting on the seat of the lavatory which was at the end of yard. Another time when Noel was only four or five he had ridden off on the horse Trixie, and when we found him he was down the hill at the bottom of the 120 acre farm and just appeared as a dot on top of the horse which was taking him this way and that at its will! Although we all rode Trixie she really became Noel's pony. He rode her the 2½ miles to State School for many years, much of that time with his sister Elaine on the back of the horse with him. In Grade 6, he was riding Trixie home one day when she took the bit in her mouth and bolted. Noel was unable to restrain her. She galloped madly then stopped, and dropped dead beneath him. He was heartbroken, and when the first car came by, the driver stopped and found Noel sobbing with his arms around the neck of his long-time friend. That was a sad day for him. Noel was a very good Aussie Rules footballer. He was even voted into the Buln Buln 'Team of the Century' as one of the two ruckman in a local Gippsland competition. When Noel was about 18yrs old he wanted to move to Melbourne and work on the furniture trucks like his brother Alan. He lived with Alan and Anne until he married in 1965. He worked for Wridgways as a jockey and later became an owner driver. When his youngest son Matthew was about 4 yrs old they moved to Sunnybank Hills, Brisbane. He worked for some time with Grace Removals and when Alan and Anne started Rainbow Furniture Transport he became an owner driver with them. When his marriage broke up he moved on to Cairns and worked for Rainbow up there. Later he worked with a shipping company and then gave the road away and went and worked on a banana plantation for quite some time. After that he went back to driving trucks, carting sugar cane, which he enjoyed very much until his illness forced his early retirement. His nephew, Wayne, said he was the only man he knew who could lift a lounge chair on his head and carry one under his arm at the same time. Such a strong man! Wayne was on the road in his truck one day when he came across Noel. Noel had about 4 days beard growth and he was dry shaving with a throw away razor incredible! Though I may not understand the import of that I am sure all the men here will know what it meant. Brett recalled one day when he was with him at work and the sole lifted off Noel's shoe, so he just got some packing tape and bound the shoe up and continued working. Nothing worried him. I'm sure we could all think of many more stories about Noel that would illustrate his kind, caring and generous nature. We think today too, of Bev and her lose, also Noel's children Stuart, Kylie, Matthew and their families and offer them are sincere sympathy and love. And indeed, for all those who grieve today. Our Christian faith assures us that we will all partake in the resurrection so farewell little brother until we meet again.