Born in Melbourne, Blainey has become one of Australia's most popular and, in his public statements, most controversial historians. His 30 books range from corporate history to defining texts such as The Tyranny of Distance , Triumph of the Nomads and, last year, Short History of the World . He was Victoria's police chief before commanding Allied Land Forces in the south-west Pacific under General Douglas MacArthur and leading the victory at Kokoda. He had character flaws but, as Prime Minister John Curtin said, Australia needed a military leader, not a Sunday school teacher. Born in Melbourne, part of perhaps Australia's most artistic family, Boyd touched his individual Australian landscape with religious, mythological and literary themes.
Some themes are violent, a striking contrast with the gentle painter.
Australian of the Year in 1995 and admired in Britain and the US, he gave his magnificent estate at Bundanon, on the NSW South Coast, to the nation. He is the first living Australian to have a museum, at Bowral, dedicated in his name. It will be played centuries after my demise. I was privileged to give the public my interpretation of its character in the same way that a pianist might interpret the works of Beethoven. Born in England, William Henry Bragg became a physics professor in Adelaide, where his son, William Lawrence, was born.