The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.
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Rev. the Hon Fred Nile (b. 1934) is National President of the Christian Democratic Party. Nile grew up in Sydney, leaving school at 15 and working briefly for an SP bookie before converting to Christianity. He studied at the Melbourne Bible institute for two years and later undertook courses in theology and divinity. In 1948 he volunteered for military service, and he won several decorations for his paramilitary activities up to 1974. He worked as a storeman, clerk and salesman before his ordination as an evangelical congregational minister in 1964. Assistant Director of the 1968 Billy Graham Crusade at the Sydney Showgrounds, in 1974 he became the National Coordinator of the Festival of Light - Community Standards Organisation. He has since organised Australian tours by moral campaigners including Mary Whitehouse, Pat Boone, Mother Teresa, members of the Moral Majority and 'Anti-Militant Homosexuals' Chuck and Donna McIllheny. In 1981 he was elected to the NSW Parliament; he is currently its longest serving member.
Purchased 1999
© Estate of John Williams
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Over the last five years the National Portrait Gallery has developed a collection of portrait photographs that reflects both the strength and diversity of Australian achievement as well as the talents of our photographers.
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.
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