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Les Johnson Interview

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Telling it as it was

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Les Johnson Oral History

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Collection SummaryLes Johnson talks about his early life and his 'under dog' background. His emerging political awareness was consolidated at the age of 15 when he joined the Australian Labor Party (ALP).BiographyLes Johnson was born on 22 November 1924 at Enfield, Sydney. After his father's death when Les was young the family moved a number of times before settling in Sutherland Shire after World War II. SynopsisDespite a shortage of building materials Les built his own family home and his mother's while working full time. For a time he and a partner ran a general store at Gymea Bay. He was also active in a number of local community organisations such as the School of Arts, P & C and the progress association. Eventually he successfully stood for election to Sutherland Shire Council as an independent. He tells of some of the characters involved in the Council and the local issues such as road construction and the bid to establish a community hotel that were current at this time. Les describes the future Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam's early career and his contact with him during his time as an emerging politician. When Whitlam moved to the western suburbs to obtain a safer Labor seat after an electoral redistribution Les managed to win preselection for the new Federal seat of Hughes. He began his new career as the youngest Labor member of parliament and recounts anecdotes concerning his early experiences in the House and his interaction with public figures such as Robert Menzies, 'Doc' Evatt and Arthur Caldwell. Les continued as the member for Hughes with an increasing margin until 1966 when he was defeated in what he refers to as the 'Vietnam War election'. He comments on the strain of this 'vitriolic' election on himself and his family and how he faced unemployment when he lost his seat. He was re-elected in 1969 and when the Whitlam Labor government came to office in 1972 he became a minister with the housing portfolio.

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Les Johnson Interview Log Sheet

Les Johnson Interview Profile

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Les Johnson Interview

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Oral History AudioLes Johnson InterviewDate of interview2nd July 2010IntervieweeLes JohnsonDate of birth22nd November 1924InterviewerPauline CurbySupporting materialLes Johnson Interview ProfileLes Johnson Interview Log Sheet

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OrganisationsSutherland Shire CouncilAustralian Labor PartySubjectsJohnson, LesCollectionTelling it as it was