Bill Grayden

Bill Grayden
The Honourable; Captain; Bill Grayden; AM
Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Swan
	In office; 10 December 1949 – 29 May 1954
Preceded by	Len Hamilton
Succeeded by	Harry Webb
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
	In office; 15 March 1947 – 10 December 1949
Preceded by	James Hegney
Succeeded by	James Hegney
Constituency	Middle Swan
	In office; 7 April 1956 – 6 February 1993
Preceded by	George Yates
Succeeded by	Phillip Pendal
Constituency	South Perth
Personal details
Born	Wilbur Ives; 5 August 1920; Bickley, Western Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse(s)	Betsy Marie Chadwick; (m. 1948; died 2007)
Relations	Nat Harper (grandfather) David Grayden (brother)
Children	5 sons and 5 daughters
Residence	South Perth, Western Australia
Profession	Mechanical engineer
	Military career
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Second Australian Imperial Force
Years of service	1940–1946
Rank	Captain
Service number	WX8868
Unit	2/16th Battalion
Battles/wars	Second World War Syria–Lebanon Campaign; Kokoda Track campaign; Finisterre Range campaign; Battle of Balikpapan;
Awards	Member of the Order of Australia

Captain William Leonard Grayden AM (born Wilbur Ives, 5 August 1920) is a former Australian politician.

Early life

Grayden was born Wilbur Ives[1] on 5 August 1920 in Bickley, Western Australia. He was one of three children born to Ethel May Harper and Aubrey Leonard Ives, including his younger brother David who also entered politics.[1][2] Grayden's father participated in the landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, and lost a lung after being shot by a Turkish sniper. The marriage broke up and his mother gave the children their step-father's surname after she remarried.[1]

Grayden was educated at state schools and then at Perth Technical College, as part of an apprenticeship commenced in 1938 as a motor mechanic with Winterbottom Motors.[3] He attempted to enlist in the Australian Army when the Second World War broke out in September 1939, but was rejected. He succeeded the following year after lying about his age. Grayden joined the 2/16th Infantry Battalion as a private, but was soon promoted to corporal and then selected to attend Officer Training School in Bonegilla. He served on the Syrian campaign and then in 1942 was sent to New Guinea, where he took part in the Kokoda Track campaign, the Battle of Buna–Gona, and the Markham and Ramu Valley campaign. He ended the war in Borneo and took part in the Battle of Balikpapan.[1]

Politics

State and federal politics: 1946–1954

Grayden stood as an independent in the Division of Swan at the 1946 federal election. At the 1947 Western Australian state election, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as the Liberal member for Middle Swan. He was the youngest member of the parliament.[3]

At the 1949 federal election, Grayden transferred to the Australian House of Representatives, winning the seat of Swan for the Liberals. He held the seat until his defeat in 1954. I

State politics: 1956–1993

In 1956 he returned to the Legislative Assembly, winning the seat of South Perth. He served as a minister in a number of capacities: Labour and Industry 1974–1978; Consumer Affairs 1974–1978; Immigration and Tourism 1974–1975; and Education, Cultural Affairs and Recreation 1978–1982. Grayden left the Assembly in 1993. In total he served 43 years in State and Federal Parliament. He is the maternal grandson of Western Australian businessman and politician Nat Harper.[3][4]

Post-career

Along with George Pearce, Grayden is the earliest elected MP still alive,[5] and one of only two living "Forty-Niner" MPs.

At 98 years old, he recited the ode of remembrance at round 6 of the 2019 AFL season.[6]

gollark: I don't really think that. But they cost more and have horribly diminishing returns on that extra cost, plus some negatives I don't have to deal with.

gollark: I will arbitrarily do maths at all times and cannot be stopped.

gollark: It doesn't matter; their depth is probably rounded enough that the difference in density is negligible.

gollark: Neat.

gollark: Can you operate the touchscreen underwater?

References

Hunter, Claire (8 August 2018). "Mateship meant everything". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
"William Leonard Grayden". Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
Grayden, Bill (1989). "Hon Bill Grayden AM" (PDF). Perth, WA: Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
Malcolm Farnsworth (2020). "Living Former Members Of The House Of Representatives (1949-1972)".
98 year old William 'Bill' Grayden recites the Ode (Nat Fyfe shows respect) Round 6 2019

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Len Hamilton	Member for Swan 1949–1954	Succeeded by Harry Webb
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by James Hegney	Member for Middle Swan 1947–1949	Succeeded by James Hegney
Preceded by George Yates	Member for South Perth 1956–1993	Succeeded by Phillip Pendal

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[awm-1] Hunter, Claire (8 August 2018). "Mateship meant everything". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 15 June 2019.

[2] "William Leonard Grayden". Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 15 June 2019.

[bill-3] Grayden, Bill (1989). "Hon Bill Grayden AM" (PDF). Perth, WA: Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 4 October 2016.

[Psephos-4] Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008.

[5] Malcolm Farnsworth (2020). "Living Former Members Of The House Of Representatives (1949-1972)".

[6] 98 year old William 'Bill' Grayden recites the Ode (Nat Fyfe shows respect) Round 6 2019