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Sir Robert Menzies was a politician and was the 12th Prime Minister of Australia, serving two terms from 1939-1941 and 1949-1966. Menzies was born in Jeparit, Victoria in 1894. He was educated at Humffray Street State School and Grenville College in Ballarat and Wesley College and University of Melbourne, where he studied Law. In 1918 he was admitted to the Bar and started a law practice. In 1928, Menzies gave up his law practice to enter state parliament as a member of the Victorian Legislative Council from East Yarra Province, representing the Nationalist Party of Australia. Menzies transferred to federal politics in 1934, representing the United Australia Party in the Melbourne electorate of Kooyong. He was immediately appointed Attorney-General and Minister for Industry in the Lyons government. Robert Menzies became the 12th prime minister in 1939 when he replaced Earle Page, who was caretaker prime minister following the death of Joseph Lyons. The Menzies era saw Australia become an increasingly affluent society, with average weekly earnings in 1965 50% higher in real terms than in 1945. The increased prosperity enjoyed by most Australians during this period was accompanied by a general increase in leisure time, with the five-day workweek becoming the norm by the mid-Sixties, together with three weeks of paid annual leave. He promoted an enormous influx of European immigrants and the augmentation of manufactures, construction and overseas commerce. In 1966 Menzies resigned from parliament and was replaced as prime minister by Harold Holt. To date, Menzies is Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister, having served for over 18 years. In 1976, he was appointed a Knight of the Order of Australia. Robert Menzies died from a heart attack in Melbourne in 1978, aged 83. 


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