Bill Grayden


William Leonard Grayden is a former Australian politician.

Early life

Grayden was born Wilbur Ives 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. 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.
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. 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.

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.
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.

Post-career

Along with George Pearce, Grayden is the earliest elected MP still alive, and one of only two living "Forty-Niner" Liberal MPs.
At 98 years old, he recited the ode of remembrance at round 6 of the 2019 AFL season.