MVM 1965

Attends the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in St Paul's Cathedral. He is one of the 12 pallbearers to carry the coffin out and place it on a gun-carriage for the last stage of the funeral cortège in London.

Menzies had a further task at Sir Winston's funeral and writes this description of it to Dame Pattie:

"After the coffin had departed and the Royal Family left, I by arrangement scuttled around the corner and down into the Crypt where, when my teeth stopped chattering, I made a talk about Winston which came over the BBC television as a sort of background to their pictures and description of the procession from the Cathedral to Tower Pier … it was a rather weird experience to be sitting down in the crypt talking to a microphone which I had to clutch closely to my face because of the noise around me and I feared that my voice would come over in a rather distorted way. I had, of course, the previous night written what I was going to say because I was not actually on television but the voice came over."
A W Martin, Robert Menzies A Life Vol 2 1944-1978, 1999 p 504.

Appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports:

"… I was appointed by the Queen to succeed Winston Churchill as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle, and was installed at Dover. In this ancient office, which goes back to King Harold in 1066, and which, over the last two centuries has been occupied by such historic personages as William Pitt, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Palmerston, the Marquess of Salisbury, Lord Curzon, Lord Reading, the Marquess of Willingdon, and Churchill himself, a sense of continuity is inevitable. You almost see the procession of history. You know that you are in what has been the 'invasion area' of England for centuries."
Sir Robert Menzies, Afternoon Light, 1967 p 3.

April 29: Announcing the decision to send a battalion to South Vietnam, Prime Minister Menzies told parliament:

"The takeover of South Vietnam would be a direct military threat to Australia and all the countries of South-East Asia. It must be seen as part of a thrust by communist China between the Indian and Pacific oceans."
A week later Labor's Arthur Calwell replied: "We do not think it is a wise decision ... We do not think it is a right decision ... Humiliation for America could come ... by her becoming interminably bogged down in the awful morass of this war."

Anti-Vietnam war demonstrations are held. Hundreds of Australians lose their lives and many more are injured in the jungles and paddy fields of Vietnam before the conflict ends in 1975.

Charles Perkins leads the Freedom Ride to end segregation in places such as cinemas and swimming pools. The protest symbolises the changing tide of political sentiment towards the rights and living conditions of Australia's indigenous people.

Aborigines gain the right to vote in Queensland state elections.

Melbourne band "The Seekers" has a number one record everywhere with their song I'll Never Find Another You.

Racegoers are scandalised when English model Jean Shrimpton introduces the mini-skirt to Australia on Derby Day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the war, dies:

"… as friend and the senior representative of the Commonwealth Menzies was asked to be one of the 12 pallbearers who after the funeral service in St Paul's Cathedral, carried the coffin out and placed it on a gun-carriage for the last stage of the funeral cortège in London."
A W Martin, Robert Menzies A Life Vol 2 1944-1978, 1999 p 504.

Sir Robert Menzies had a further task following Sir Winston Churchill's funeral service and described it to Dame Pattie:

"After the coffin had departed and the Royal Family left, I by arrangement scuttled around the corner and down into the Crypt where, when my teeth stopped chattering, I made a talk about Winston which came over the BBC television as a sort of background to their pictures and description of the procession from the Cathedral to Tower Pier."
A W Martin, Robert Menzies A Life Vol 2 1944-1978, 1999 p 504.

First space walk by astronauts.

The fall of President Sukarno in Indonesia leads to the establishment of the New Order under President Suharto.

USA aircraft bomb North Vietnam and ground troops become involved in the Vietnam War.


	Attends the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in St Paul's Cathedral. He is one of the 12 pallbearers to carry the coffin out and place it on a gun-carriage for the last stage of the funeral cortège in London. Menzies had a further task at Sir Winston's funeral and writes this description of it to Dame Pattie: "After the coffin had departed and the Royal Family left, I by arrangement scuttled around the corner and down into the Crypt where, when my teeth stopped chattering, I made a talk about Winston which came over the BBC television as a sort of background to their pictures and description of the procession from the Cathedral to Tower Pier … it was a rather weird experience to be sitting down in the crypt talking to a microphone which I had to clutch closely to my face because of the noise around me and I feared that my voice would come over in a rather distorted way. I had, of course, the previous night written what I was going to say because I was not actually on television but the voice came over." A W Martin, Robert Menzies A Life Vol 2 1944-1978, 1999 p 504. Appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports: "… I was appointed by the Queen to succeed Winston Churchill as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle, and was installed at Dover. In this ancient office, which goes back to King Harold in 1066, and which, over the last two centuries has been occupied by such historic personages as William Pitt, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Palmerston, the Marquess of Salisbury, Lord Curzon, Lord Reading, the Marquess of Willingdon, and Churchill himself, a sense of continuity is inevitable. You almost see the procession of history. You know that you are in what has been the 'invasion area' of England for centuries." Sir Robert Menzies, Afternoon Light, 1967 p 3.		F5 Tribute to Sir Winston Churchill: "One fire burning in him"
			Sir Robert Menzies as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle 2
			Cinque Ports: "... and at sundown, when the flag is lowered, we all shout 'Australia for the Ashes'." Jon, Daily Mail, 8.10.65 11 Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Dover Castle 2


	April 29: Announcing the decision to send a battalion to South Vietnam, Prime Minister Menzies told parliament: "The takeover of South Vietnam would be a direct military threat to Australia and all the countries of South-East Asia. It must be seen as part of a thrust by communist China between the Indian and Pacific oceans." A week later Labor's Arthur Calwell replied: "We do not think it is a wise decision ... We do not think it is a right decision ... Humiliation for America could come ... by her becoming interminably bogged down in the awful morass of this war." Anti-Vietnam war demonstrations are held. Hundreds of Australians lose their lives and many more are injured in the jungles and paddy fields of Vietnam before the conflict ends in 1975. Charles Perkins leads the Freedom Ride to end segregation in places such as cinemas and swimming pools. The protest symbolises the changing tide of political sentiment towards the rights and living conditions of Australia's indigenous people. Aborigines gain the right to vote in Queensland state elections. Melbourne band "The Seekers" has a number one record everywhere with their song I'll Never Find Another You. Racegoers are scandalised when English model Jean Shrimpton introduces the mini-skirt to Australia on Derby Day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.		Anti-Vietnam war protests 1
			Vietnam 16


	Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the war, dies: "… as friend and the senior representative of the Commonwealth Menzies was asked to be one of the 12 pallbearers who after the funeral service in St Paul's Cathedral, carried the coffin out and placed it on a gun-carriage for the last stage of the funeral cortège in London." A W Martin, Robert Menzies A Life Vol 2 1944-1978, 1999 p 504. Sir Robert Menzies had a further task following Sir Winston Churchill's funeral service and described it to Dame Pattie: "After the coffin had departed and the Royal Family left, I by arrangement scuttled around the corner and down into the Crypt where, when my teeth stopped chattering, I made a talk about Winston which came over the BBC television as a sort of background to their pictures and description of the procession from the Cathedral to Tower Pier." A W Martin, Robert Menzies A Life Vol 2 1944-1978, 1999 p 504. First space walk by astronauts. The fall of President Sukarno in Indonesia leads to the establishment of the New Order under President Suharto. USA aircraft bomb North Vietnam and ground troops become involved in the Vietnam War.		Sir Winston Churchill 12 Hear Sir Robert's broadcast tribute F5 Read Sir Robert's tribute to Sir Winston Churchill: "One fire burning in him"
			First space walk 16