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1AUSTAIA,
FOR MEDIA FRIDAY, 21 NOVEMBER, 1980
DEATH OF SIR JOHN McEWEN
Sir John McEwen was a very great Australian.
He served this country in many different capacities in the
Federal Parliament for more than 36 years'.-a very large part
of his working life.
Sir John was elected to the House of Representatives in 1934.
Three years later he was appointed to his first Ministerial
post, Minister for the Interior.
In the early days of World War 2, he was Minister for Exter nal.
Affairs. Sir John was appointed Minister for Air and Minister
for Civil Aviation in 1940, and held these portfolios for a
year until the defeat in Parliament of the Fadden Ministry.
On the election of the first post-war Menzies Ministry in 1949,
he became Minister for Commerce and Agriculture, a portfolio lie
held until 1956, when it was renamed Trade.
He held the portfolio of Minister for Trade from 1956 to
1963, and Trade and Industry from then until his resignation
from Parliament in 1971.
Sir John always regarded one of his more significant achievements
as denying some of the Pacific islands to the axis powers as
Foreign Minister in the early days of the War.
These are events beyond the memory of a large number of
Australians, but they show the breadth of time over which
John McEwen served Australia in many different capacities.
Sir John is best remembered as Leader of the Country Party, as
Deputy Prime Minister to Sir Robert Menzies and then to later
Liberal leaders. In that capacity, he served Australia very
well, and very truly.
one of the precious memories I have of being in Federal Parliament,
was being able to learn by watching and listening to John McEwen.
It was a privilege to serve with him. / 2
2
His death will be very much noticed throughout Australia.
I hope at this time that all Australians will just pause
to think for a moment of the very great service that he gave
for this country not just for his Party, but for the
whole nation.
He was one of those politicians who had the capacity to put
the national interest first, and as I believe, he always did.
I regarded John McEwen as a very close personal friend.
I want and am very sure many others would want me, on
their behalf to convey my sincere condolences and sympathies
to Lady McEwen. 000---