The son of a public servant, young Whitlam had his university studies interrupted by World War II and later became a barrister.

He entered Federal Parliament during the Menzies years, a time when the Labor party was divided by foreign policy and its stance on communism. 

He took over from the ineffective Arthur Calwell as opposition leader in 1967 and gave then prime minister Harold Holt a run for his money. He got close to victory at the “Don’s Party” election in 1969, then succeeded in returning Labor to power three years later after a generation in the wilderness.

History shows it was Whitlam who made Labor electable again through his intelligence, showmanship and sweeping oratory. He was arguably Australia’s greatest-ever opposition leader. 

His prime ministership, however, remains a source of debate. When the Whitlam government succeeded, it triumphed. When it failed, it crashed and burned.

His list of achievements is impressive. The introduction of Medibank, free university education, legal aid, no-fault divorce, changing the honours system, connecting with China, a new national anthem, abolition of the death penalty, advocacy of indigenous rights and investment in the arts.

One or two such achievements would have made a political career. To think Whitlam managed to implement so much in so little time is a testament to his political courage. However, his economic failures were sizable. Throughout 1975, he dealt with an almost unmanageable parliament and one ministerial scandal after another. 

Last night, television reports used the famous clip of Whitlam’s speech after being sacked by Governor General John Kerr. But he should not be remembered for the way he lost power, but for how he used it. 

Australians should recall how he redefined our country by thinking outside the square, modernising our national identity and upholding the concept of a fair go.

The big man left a giant legacy.