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Fast facts: Earle Page
Personal profile
Born:
8 August 1880, Grafton, New South Wales
Education:
University of Sydney 1895–1902
Employment:
surgeon, businessman
Memberships:
Australian Infantry Forces (January 1916 – July 1917); Australia Club, Sydney (1927–61); Freemasons
Marriage:
18 September 1906, Ashfield, Sydney (and 20 July 1959, to Jean Thomas)
Children:
Mary (1909); Earle (1911); Donald (1912); Iven (1914); Douglas (1916)
Died:
20 December 1961, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney
Buried:
cremated
Honours:
Privy Councillor (1929); KCMG (1938); Companion of Honour (1942); Foundation Fellow Royal Australian College of Surgeons; Honorary Fellow Royal College of Surgeons of England (1942); first Chancellor University of New England (1955–61)
Born:
c.1875
Memberships:
Australian Country Party 1920–58; Feminist Club; Lyceum Club; Red Cross; National Council of Women, New South Wales; Country Women’s Association
Died:
26 May 1958, Grafton, New South Wales
Political profile
Terms as PM:
7–26 April 1939
Terms as MP:
House of Representatives: 26 February 1920 – 20 December 1961 (Cowper)
Portfolios:
Treasurer: 9 February 1923 – 22 October 1929
Commerce: 9 November 1934 – 26 April 1939
Health: 29 November 1937 – 7 November 1938
Commerce: 28 October 1940 – 7 October 1941
Health: 19 December 1949 – 11 January 1956
Political memberships:
Local Government Council (South Grafton) 1913–19; Farmers and Settlers Association; New State League: 1915–25; Australian Country Party of Australia (1920–61; leader April 1921 – September 1939)
After:
Australian War Cabinet January – May 1941; Australian Advisory War Council August 1942 – September 1943 and February 1944 – August 1945
Quiz facts
- founder of the Country Party (now National Party)
- governed in coalition with SM Bruce 1923–29
- as Treasurer, established the Loan Council in 1928
- one of the first Australians to own a car (in 1904) and in 1920s set up Commonwealth aid program for road-building in the States
- second PM with war service (SM Bruce was the first)
- the shortest official stay in Britain – 1 day (1925)
- the ‘Father of health insurance’
- nicknamed ‘the Doc’