THE legacy of Gough Whitlam's term as Prime Minister still influences national life today - almost 40 years later - and will do so well into the future.
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Tributes to Whitlam poured in yesterday from both sides of politics.
He will be remembered for leading the Labor Party back to government in 1972 after 23 years in the political wilderness and immediately embarking on changes that would modernise Australia.
He started universal health care with Medibank (later Medicare) in 1975.
Education was a priority with more funds for state and other schools and free university study.
Whitlam elevated Aboriginal affairs and land rights.
He was way out in front of other Western leaders in engaging with China. Advance Australia Fair became the national anthem. Conscription ended.
The arts, family relationships, environmental protection laws - the list of areas given much-needed attention was extensive.
The country changed, it developed a new identity.
Whitlam's impact on the nation's social affairs and thinking was enormous.
Economics was a blind spot.
Whitlam and his government ultimately paid dearly for it with the historic and bitterly controversial dismissal at the end of 1975 and a subsequent election loss.
The dismissal created its own legacy which often cloaked the successes.
Agree or disagree with him, Whitlam was forward-looking and committed to improving life for all Australians. He did so.
His 1972 campaign message was It's Time. It was and in short time he transformed a nation.
