August 16, 1975: Whitlam formally handed the Gurindji people at Wattie Creek in the Northern Territory title deeds to part of their traditional lands, symbolically pouring red dust into the hands of an elder with the words "Vincent Lingiari, I solemnly hand to you these deeds as proof, in Australian law, that these lands belong to the Gurindji people and I put into your hands this piece of the earth itself as a sign that we restore them to you and your children forever". Lingiari replied "we are all mates now".

Gough Whitlam Credit:Rocco Fazzari

November 11, 1975: The Governor General Sir John Kerr sacked Whitlam and sent his official secretary, David Smith, to proclaim the dissolution from the front steps of Parliament House and ended with the words "God save the Queen". Whitlam then stepped forward and declared "Ladies and gentlemen, well may we say 'God save the Queen', because nothing will save the Governor-General! The Proclamation which you have just heard read by the Governor-General's Official Secretary was countersigned Malcolm Fraser, who will undoubtedly go down in Australian history from Remembrance Day 1975 as Kerr's cur. They won't silence the outskirts of Parliament House, even if the inside has been silenced for a few weeks ... Maintain your rage and enthusiasm for the campaign for the election now to be held and until polling day."

The Whitlam Government 1972-1975 by Gough Whitlam, published 1985: "A conservative government survives essentially by dampening expectations and subduing hopes. Conservatism is basically pessimistic, reformism is basically optimistic."

October 19, 1989: Whitlam wrote for the London Daily Telegraph - "The punters know that the horse named Morality rarely gets past the post, whereas the nag named Self-interest always runs a good race."