WEST AUSTRALIANA Signed. First Edition.

Brian Burke was Western Australia’s 23rd Premier, and served from 25th February 1983 until his resignation on 25th February, 1988 – exactly five years to the day. ‘A Tumultuous Life’ is his story of a lifetime including those five years; the toll they took on his family, and the ‘personalities’ and events that led to his leaving office when he was appointed Australia’s Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See. It describes the time he spent in jail after his conviction for misusing his travel allowance and is desperately sad in funny in others. This is not a mud-slinging political book, of who was to blame – but an honest appraisal by a Premier who was thought of highly by a vast majority of Western Australians. There are chapters on the people who caught the attention of the public for all the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ reasons – and much more. Brian Burke says: I have written it with honesty and candour… it will open some wounds, but hopefully heal others”.

Limited Signed by Author. First Edition. 579 pages, 50 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some colour), facsimiles, portraits (some colour) ; 24 cm #0918/0819/1120/230622/070922/151122 Signed by Author.

“Brian Burke’s story… is the story of an aspiring young politician who gathered around him a group of talented, like-minded Labor Party idealists branded by the press as the Young Turks. Together they reinvented the Labor Party. Brian Burke was 35 years of age when he led Labor to its biggest-ever victory when the party won government in Western Australia. At the age of 36 he was sworn in as Premier. Brian Burke was born into Labor politics – and into Catholicism. His father Tom was the federal member for Perth; he was expelled from the Labor Party during the desperate politics of the Split of the 1950s. it was from his father that he learnt so much about politics, and life. Brian Burke began his working life as a journalist. After winning the seat of Balcatta by just 30 votes, he spent ten years in Opposition in State Parliament before becoming Premier during the crazy, heady, exciting times of the 1980s. it was a time when much of the commercial action across Australia was being driven by a group of colourful, audacious, creative, and – in some cases – dishonest entrepreneurs. They are all part of Brian Burke’s story. While still in his early 40s, Brian Burke had been the Member for Balcatta and the Balga in the Western Australian Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition, the Premier of the State, Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See – and incarcerated in Wooroloo Prison. Brian Burke describes this life as one of success, of failure, and of regret – regret about the things he might have done better, things done for the right reason that didn’t work out as well as he had hoped – a life much like everyone else’s. but entwined and ever present in his incredible life is a rare love story. It’s a love story strengthened by adversity; a love story that has endured. Now, after 52 years of marriage, six children and 19 grandchildren, it is still being written.”–
Burke, Brian, 1947- | Australian Labor Party. Western Australian Branch — Biography. | Western Australia. Parliament — History — 1976-1990. | Politicians — Western Australia — Biography. | Premiers — Western Australia — Biography. | Western Australia — Politics and government — 1976-1990. | Australian