Bill Graham

Bruce William Graham, OBE (22 August 1919 – 18 February 1995) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served in the House of Representatives for over 20 years, representing the New South Wales seats of St George (1949–1954, 1955–1958) and North Sydney (1966–1980). Early life Graham was born in Sydney on 22 August 1919. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School before becoming an announcer on the ABC. He played rugby union with Eastern Suburbs RUFC, cricket for the Waverley Cricket Club, and was a member of the Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club. Military service Graham enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in March 1939. He spent time with No. 22 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron based out of RAAF Base Richmond. He joined the No. 2 Service Flying Training School at RAAF Base Forest Hill in August 1940. He was promoted flying officer three months later and then made flight lieutenant in January 1942. Graham was subsequently posted to No. 1 Air Observers School in Cootamundra, No. 33 Squadron in Townsville, and No. 2 Air Ambulance Unit in Canberra. In June 1942, Graham fractured his spine and both legs in an aircraft crash. He spent two years in hospital and underwent a number of operations, allowing him to return to active service. He was subsequently stationed at Parafield with No. 34 Squadron, at Uranquinty with No. 5 Service Flying Training School, at Bundaberg with No. 88 Operational Base Unit, and finally at RAAF headquarters in Sydney. He accumulated over 1,200 hours of flying time with the RAAF.