Bill Grayden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Grayden
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| Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 7 April 1956 – 6 February 1993 |
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| Preceded by | George Yates |
| Succeeded by | Phillip Pendal |
| Constituency | South Perth |
| Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Swan | |
| In office 10 December 1949 – 29 May 1954 |
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| Preceded by | Len Hamilton |
| Succeeded by | Harry Webb |
| Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 15 March 1947 – 27 October 1949 |
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| Preceded by | James Hegney |
| Succeeded by | James Hegney |
| Constituency | Middle Swan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Wilbur Ives
5 August 1920 Bickley, Western Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) |
Betsy Marie Chadwick
(m. 1948; died 2007) |
| Relations | Nat Harper (grandfather) David Grayden (brother) |
| Children | 10 |
| Residence(s) | South Perth, Western Australia |
| Profession | Mechanical engineer |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Australia |
| Service/ |
Second Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1940–1946 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Service number | WX8868 |
| Unit | 2/16th Battalion |
| Battles/wars | Second World War
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| Awards | Member of the Order of Australia |
William Leonard Grayden AM (born Wilbur Ives; 5 August 1920) is an Australian former politician. He was a member of parliament across six decades, serving in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly (1947–1949, 1956–1993) and the Australian House of Representatives (1949–1954). A World War II veteran, he served as a Liberal with the exception of a brief period as an independent. Grayden was a backbencher in federal parliament, but later held ministerial office in the state government of Charles Court (1974–1978, 1980–1982). His brother David and grandfather Nat Harper were also members of parliament.
Early life and military service
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 is the maternal grandson of Western Australian businessman and politician Nat Harper.
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.
Later life
In 2015, aged 94, Grayden visited Gallipoli to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove, which his father had participated in.
Grayden is the earliest elected federal MP still alive, and he is the last surviving "Forty-Niner" MP, as well as the last surviving MP first elected before 1961. In a 2019 interview he recalled his personal memories of Robert Menzies, Ben Chifley, and Billy Hughes.
At 98 years old, he recited the ode of remembrance at round 6 of the 2019 AFL season.
Personal life
Grayden married Betsy Marie Chadwick on 31 July 1948, with whom he had five sons and five daughters. As of December 2019[update] he had 36 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren, and was expecting his first great-great-grandchild. His son Jim stood as a candidate at the 2018 Perth by-election (as an independent Liberal) and the 2019 federal election (as an endorsed Liberal candidate).
