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.

Aaron Potts We love you Brenton, and will always love you. Our dear Nephew and Cousin who so quickly and convincingly made your place in our hearts and in our lives. Our days remaining here will miss your beautiful smile and charming manner. We thank the Grace of God for His wonderful gift Rosie, whose precious life will keep our treasured memories alive, until we meet again brother. James Potts You made one of my most dearest cousins happy for a very long time, and for that I'm grateful! You bought a beautiful little girl into the world, and for that I'm grateful! When I came down once and I was upset. You somehow picked me up and made me smile, and for that I am grateful. There are a lot of things that you have done that I am grateful for but I never told you, I wish I did! I love you cousin RIP Kate Potts You will always be the wonderful uncle Brenton Walsh that we tell our boys about and the wonderful dad we will tell your babies about and a wonderful family member who will forever live on in our hearts. You are so very much loved. xx Jocelyn Bronwyn Brenton the grief we feel is only a measure of how much we love you. It hurts to know we were only weeks away from being able to hang out together all the time. We will miss you being in our lives tremendously. We love you always, Chris, Jocelyn and Olivia xoxoxo Melissa-Ann Welsh I still can't believe how lucky I am to have grown up with an amazing brother like you, you are such a beautiful person, I promise to tell your babies every chance I get how amazing their father is, knowing that I will never get to see you or hug you again breaks my heart, I love you more then words can describe, Brenton Thank you for being my brother, my protector, my role model and my idol. There won't pass a day that you won't be in my thoughts and my heart. Susan Welsh Brenton words cannot express what i feel....will miss u terribly and will miss that smile and coming through the door with "howdy ma how ya doin" u were my baby boy and there are some great memories that will keep us all going. will miss u mate. Nicola Walsh Yo Bro.. Are you there?? Of Course you are.. Right here in our hearts, our thoughts our memories. You grew up a mummy's boy.. But turned into a Man.. Our Superman, Superdad, Superhusband, "SuperBrother", Superfriend. The AquaMan... You may not know it, but you have touched the hearts of all those who have had the pleasure of meeting you. Your qwerkiness will be missed, your smile, Your wonderful hugs. But you are not gone forever. As forever you are in our hearts, and in your childrens good looks.. Love you Bro. xxx Jeremy Banham Brenton Walsh, my much loved brother. I miss you, your smile and your laugh. You will always be in our hearts and thoughts. You were a great mate and I love you very much. It was an honour to know you and be able to call you my brother. Rest in peace. Abigail Banham My brother Brenton, there is no understanding, only sadness. You filled a part of our lives that can never be replaced. We will love you forever and you will always remain with us. xxx Bronnie Potts Brenton you managed to work your way into my heart and there you will forever remain - you really where a SuperMAN xox Janelle Annette Life without you in it will never feel right. It is completely surreal and forever indescribable. Brenton, you were so much to us all. So caring, so thoughtful, so involved and so apart of our world. I can only thank you for all you gave to us, all you were and all you have left behind. My heart is hurting and this feeling is so great. The deep sadness we have in knowing your precious babies wont know the great man that we do. I promise that they will be loved, protected and taught of how wonderful their Daddy was and so special to each and everyone of us. I love you Brentonio Jason Potts I wish I could find the words to express our deep, deep sorrow. We love you dearly. Haley Taylor Rest in peace Brenton.. I hope you are looking down seeing how greatly missed you are!! We love you so much!! You were a great man taken too soon.. Xxx Bethany Neese Brenton your absence in our lives will be felt forever. You were a wonderful and caring husband to my sister and loving father to your beautiful little girl. It breaks my heart that your two babies will never get to know the sweet man you were but we will always speak of you and tell them all the wonderful memories we shared with you. We love you. Warwick Potts Brenton, the son my daughter found for me, I count it one of the rare privileges of my life to have shared a small portion of time with you. Getting to know you and love you. Your personality, your curiosity, your caring and loving nature have always warmed my heart. I will always be the richer for knowing you and will always be the poorer for losing you. Goodbye my friend, my son. Jenny Goodwin Dear Brenton, it was a privilege to know you. I watched you transform from a teenager into a wonderful young man; then to a loving and caring husband and devoted father. Kerensa and Rosalie will never forget you, because you will live forever in their hearts. Proud to be your Auntie. Anthony Webb Rip Brenton. You were at good mate at cadets and a great mate mate at work. You will be missed. Eddie Wensierski Brenton. I have been privileged to know you for over 20 years. Always the funny guy, the guy everyone could turn to. A father, a husband and very good friend. You my friend will be missed by all. Rest in peace compadre Darren Allen R.I.P Brenton, I will miss you so much you are the best little bro anyone would ever want. So many great memories to remember. xoxo Yvonne Potts RIP sweet Brenton, you have left such an immense void in our lives, we were blessed to have you in our family and we will always miss you. Love you! King Bear In loving memory of this great Father,son,husband ,nephew,brother, Uncle,friend,mate. Brenton. U will be sadley missed mate, With much love from Uncle dean auntie jenny James and Robert R.I.P Kerensa Walsh My darling Brenton, I am so filled with sorrow and such deep, deep sadness. My grief and loss are overwhelming. I miss everything about you, your smile, your voice, your embrace, ...you. I feel lost, completely. You were my life, my everything. Rosie and I will have and hold you in our hearts forever, we will always tell our unborn child of how wonderful you were. the most wonderful husband and friend, and the most amazing father. I love you forever.

Melissa-Ann Welsh - A Tribute My eulogy I wrote for Brenton . I didn't have to lose my brother to appreciate what an amazing and beautiful person he is,. I have always known how lucky I am to grow up with Brenton as my brother. There's a large age gap between my siblings and I but that never stopped Brenton from giving me the full big brother experience - from tricking me into playing 52 pick up, to me bringing my barbies out only for Brenton to sit there and pull their heads off. He was the first one to stick up for me when I was being picked on but also the first one to get me in a head lock and pin me to the floor during the add breaks on TV. From riding our bikes to roller blading through the house, you have filled my life with my most cherished memories. I can't even begin to imagine what it's going to be like not having you around to make new memories with, all I can hope for is that you will walk beside us all through the important journeys in our lives. My brother was soo lucky and blessed to have found such a beautiful loving soul such as Kerensa to share his life with. I can't thank Kerensa and her family enough for loving and excepting Brenton so readily and openly, you all made him feel loved and part of the family,. I also want to thank my brother for sharing his beautiful wife with my family and myself I couldn't have asked for a better person to marry my brother and become my sister. The love you two share inspires me everyday. We may have lost a beautiful loving man, but Brenton has given us all the greatest gift he could, from the precious little bundle growing in Kerensas belly to Rosalie, my brother will live on through both these angels and for that I am thankful. Brenton, my role model, my idol, my friend but most of all my brother, I love you more then words can describe you will forever be my hero...