1930

Sir Robert Menzies

Posted in 1930

  • Becomes vice president of the Young Nationalists organisation.

"In the later months of 1930 and into 1931 Menzies' speeches, like those of other orthodox conservatives, began displaying a new emphasis, on the threat of inflation and on denouncing expansionary monetary policies increasingly pressed by left-wing members of the federal Labor Caucus. This subject lent itself to witty simplifications to which public audiences - most of them already converted - readily warmed."
A W Martin, Robert Menzies: A Life. Vol 1 1894-1943, 1993 p 81.

Australian Events

Posted in 1930

  • Sir Isaac Isaacs: the first Australian to be appointed Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Scullin (see Australian Prime Ministers) defies the King to appoint Sir Isaac Isaacs as Governor-General,the first Australian born incumbent of the office.
  • Don Bradman scores a world record 452 not out in one innings for NSW against Queensland.
  • The Dominion League of Western Australia begin a secessionist campaign demanding a referendum to test public opinion on the formal withdrawal of WA from the Commonwealth. A meeting in Perth drew a crowd of 2,000 people in support of secession.
  • Donald Bradman"It is no use having a perfect voice unless you have brains, personality, magnetism, great willpower, health, strength, and determination. If they are to find a woman to take my place, she must have all these qualities - and such women come only once in a century. I have been trying to get a successor - but I have not seen one." - Dame Nellie Melba.
  • The best-known racehorse in Australian turf history, Phar Lap wins the Melbourne Cup. A telegram sent by punters to Phar Lap reads Dame Nellie Melba"If you could only stand up on your hind legs and talk, we'd make you Prime Minister of Australia."

World Events

Posted in 1930

  • Amy Johnson in the cockpit of her Gypsy Moth biplane, arriving in DarwinAustralia is connected by telephone link with Britain.
  • Planet Pluto is discovered.
  • Women civil servants in London vote in favour of compulsory retirement of women on marriage.
  • Mahatma Gandhi in India begins his 100 mile march to the sea. His purpose is to defy the British law establishing a government monopoly on producing salt. He completes the journey in 25 days.
  • British pilot Amy Johnson arrives in Darwin after her epic solo flight from London, the first woman to do so. The flight took 19 days in her Gypsy Moth biplane "Jason".