Mitch Matters: Prime Minister Harold Holt and tragedy that took the name of the Mornington Peninsula around the world
Columnist Peter Mitchell reflects on Prime Minister Harold Holt — a man who dismantled the disgraceful ‘White Australia’ policy, but is also forever linked to profound tragedy.
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It was the tragedy that took the name of the Mornington Peninsula around the world.
And it was the reason an unprecedented group of world leaders gathered in Australia just five days later.
In the early afternoon of Sunday, December 17, 1967, Australia’s 17th and serving Prime Minister chose to have a swim in the ocean at Cheviot Beach at Portsea.
Harold Holt was never seen again.
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He had been driving back to his holiday house at Portsea with a group of friends when he suggested they stop for a swim.
It was 12.15pm and he said he wanted to cool down and work up an appetite before lunch.
He was with close friend Marjorie Gillespie, her daughter Vyner and two friends of the Gillespie’s, Martin Simpson and Alec Stewart.
Stewart was the only other swimmer as the others considered it unsafe, and he chose to stay close to shore.
Even in the shallows he felt a strong undertow.
Holt swam into the deeper water and was dragged out to sea. The others called out to him, but he did not raise an arm or cry out for help.
He soon slipped under the waves and was gone.
The nation was in shock.
Holt’s disappearance made international headlines.
One of the largest search operations in Australia’s history lasting a week, failed to find any trace of the Prime Minister.
Harold Holt’s memorial service held in Melbourne on December 22 was broadcast to the nation and was the first event in Australia to be transmitted to other countries via satellite.
A massive pre-Christmas crowd lined Flinders and Swanston streets trying to catch a glimpse of the astonishing list of dignitaries.
Representing Queen Elizabeth II was 19-year-old Prince Charles.
Also among the mourners were US President Lyndon B. Johnson, Britain’s Prime Minister Harold Wilson, President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, President of South Vietnam, Nguyen Van Thieu, President of South Korea, Park Chung-hee, New Zealand Prime Minister Keith Holyoake, Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew and Prime Minister of Thailand, Thanow Kittikachorn.
Former Australian prime ministers Robert Menzies, Arthur Fadden and Frank Forde were in attendance. Newly sworn-in Prime Minister John McEwen was there, as were future prime ministers Billy McMahon, Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser.
As a young boy living in Frankston, I clearly remember the coverage in newspapers and on radio and television of the Prime Minister’s disappearance.
Like many local residents, I have been to the same beach to see for myself exactly where it was that our PM vanished.
He was 59 at the time and I find it surreal, to say the least, that I am about to reach the same age.
And the overarching question I ask myself is, given my age and reasonable swimming ability and level of health and fitness, would I ever contemplate entering the turbulent waters of Cheviot Beach to cool off?
The answer I can assure you, is a resounding “No!”.
Holt’s prime ministership lasted just 22 months, but his achievements included the dismantling of the disgraceful ‘White Australia’ policy and the referendum that counted indigenous Australians in the census.
It’s a pity he’s mostly remembered for being the PM who went for a swim and never returned.
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