The late Sir Charles Walter Michael Court, AK, KCMG, OBE, who passed away on 23 December 2007, was Premier of Western Australia from 8 April, 1974 to 25 January, 1982. Sir Charles was a soldier, a believer in national development, a strong federalist and a strong constitutional monarchist.
He was a great supporter of ACM, and was always willing to offer advice to us. His counsel was particularly valuable.
His family emigrated from England in 1912 when he was only a baby.
As a young man, Sir Charles enlisted in the Army in September 1940, and after officer training, he joined the Second Australian Imperial Force. He was deployed to the Northern Territory and then to New Guinea, principally on Bougainville Island. He was awarded an OBE for his service there.
As Premier he was a leading proponent of iron-ore mining in the Pilbara region and gas exploration and development in the North-West shelf, both of which have been of singular importance in the development of the state and of the nation.
Survived by his wife Judy, sons Victor, Barry, Ken, former WA premier Richard and Geoffrey, 16 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren, he will also be remembered as a dedicated family man.
In recognition of his many great contributions, Sir Charles was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1947, a knight bachelor in 1972, a Knight of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1979, and a Knight of the Order of Australia (AK) in 1982.
Sir Charles was a great Australian, whose contributions to the state of Western Australia and to the nation are acknowledged gratefully across the political spectrum and across the nation .
His influence and dedication to the nation will be sorely missed.