1972: the year of living charisma

By Alex Millmow
Updated April 18 2018 - 10:56pm, first published November 20 2012 - 3:00am

On a spring evening 40 years ago this month Australian viewers, over two consecutive nights, were subject to the highs and the lows of political broadcasting. On a Monday night they saw Gough Whitlam give his immortal ''It's Time'' speech live from Blacktown Civic Centre to rapturous applause. He opened his policy speech with John Curtin's salutation ''men and women of Australia''. He carved out one of Australia's finest speeches.

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