Bob Katter Sr.
A tough-talking Queensland political patriarch whose rural advocacy shaped a political dynasty and Australian conservatism.
1918–1990 (age 72)·Australian politician·Birthday: September 5·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bob Katter Sr. was the embodiment of a certain kind of Australian politics: blunt, fiercely parochial, and unshakeably dedicated to the interests of rural Queensland. Elected as the member for Kennedy in 1966, he held the vast outback seat for nearly a quarter-century, becoming a fixture in National Party cabinets. As Minister for the Army, he oversaw the end of conscription and the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam. But his true legacy was as a vocal, often pugnacious advocate for primary producers, fighting for tariffs and subsidies against the tide of economic rationalism. His style and substance were inherited by his son, Bob Katter Jr., who founded his own party, ensuring the Katter name remained a potent force in Australian politics long after his death.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bob was born in 1918, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1918
Bob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1918Born
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Started school
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1931Became a teenager
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Could drive
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1936Could vote
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Turned 21
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1948Turned 30
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 40
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 50
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 60
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 70
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Died at 72
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
Key Achievements
- Served as the Federal Minister for the Army in the McMahon government during the final phase of the Vietnam War.
- Represented the vast Queensland electorate of Kennedy for 24 consecutive years from 1966 to 1990.
- Was a senior cabinet minister in multiple Coalition governments, holding portfolios like Primary Industry.
- Was a founding member and Vice-President of the National Party of Australia (Queensland).
- Successfully championed policies protecting the sugar and tobacco industries in Queensland.
Did You Know?
He was a champion rodeo rider in his youth before entering politics.
His father was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, making politics a family tradition.
He was known for wearing distinctive large hats, a style his son also adopted.
Two of his sons, Bob Katter Jr. and Carl Katter, followed him into federal politics.
He initially worked as a cane cutter and tobacco farmer, which informed his political views.
“The city slickers in Canberra wouldn't know a drought from a teacup.”
