1979 in Australia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

See also: 1978 in Australia, other events of 1979, 1980 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.

Contents 1 Incumbents 2 Events 3 Arts and Literature 4 Film 5 Television 6 Sport 7 Births 8 Deaths

[edit] Incumbents

• Queen of Australia - HM Queen Elizabeth II
• Prime Minister - Malcolm Fraser
• Governor General - Zelman Cowen
• Premier of New South Wales - Neville Wran
• Premier of South Australia - Don Dunstan (til February 15), David Tonkin (til 18 September), John Bannon
• Premier of Queensland - Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen
• Premier of Tasmania - Harry Holgate
• Premier of Western Australia - Charles Court
• Premier of Victoria - Rupert Hamer
• Chief Minister of the Northern Territory - Paul Everingham

[edit] Events

• Neville Bonner is announced as Australian of the Year
• June 9 - A fire at Luna Park Sydney kills 7. The park is forced to close later in the year.
• July 11 - The American space station Skylab crashes in Western Australia
• July 20 - inaugural meeting of the National Farmers' Federation
• October 19 - The Australian Federal Police is established

[edit] Arts and Literature

• Wes Walters wins the Archibald Prize for his portrait of Philip Adams

[edit] Film

• My Brilliant Career, directed by Gillian Armstrong, is released

[edit] Television

• The TV series Against the Wind is first televised

[edit] Sport

• November 6 - Hyperno wins the Melbourne Cup
• Victoria wins the Sheffield Shield
• Bumblebee IV takes line honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Screw Loose is the handicap winner
• England defeats Australia 5-1 in The Ashes
• Australia wins the Admiral's Cup
• Jack Newton wins the Australian Open golf championship
• The National Basketball League is founded

[edit] Births

• January 2 – Robert Newbery, diver
• March 4 – Geoff Huegill, swimmer
• March 12 – Jamie Dwyer, field hockey forward
• April 4 – Heath Ledger, actor
• April 9 – Graeme Brown, cyclist
• April 18 – Zain Wright, field hockey midfielder
• July 7 – Loudy Tourky, diver
• August 23 – Lance Whitnall, Australian Rules footballer
• September 12 – Aaron Hopkins, field hockey defender
• December 21 – Stephen Lambert, field hockey goalkeeper

[edit] Deaths

• April 15 – David Brand (b. 1912), Premier of Western Australia
• June 6 – Ion Idriess (b. 1889), author