Former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam makes an appeal for a "yes" vote during a pro-republic rally
Former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam makes an appeal for a "yes" vote during a pro-republic rally in the Queen's Chamber in Melbourne November 4. Campaigning is intensifying and speculation mounting ahead of Saturday's national referendum which will see Australia vote to either maintain links with the British Monarchy or to become a republic. At right is former prime minister Malcolm Fraser. REUTERS/:Will Burgess

The Australian Parliament stood for a minute's silence to remember former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. The former Australian prime minister died on Tuesday at age 98.

In the words of John Howard, one of the few surviving former prime ministers of the country; Whitlam brought high intelligence to public life. He said that Whitlam had also brought a strong belief that the government could intervene to solve most of the problems the society had. Howard appreciated the "commanding presence" of the former prime minister whose greatest achievement was the election victory in 1972. "He led the Labor party back into government, after the wasteland, of 23 years of opposition, characterised by a disastrous split and an over long dalliance with attitudes no longer relevant to a rapidly changing Australia," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Howard, "With flair, and notwithstanding considerable resistance, he reformed and modernised the Australian Labor Party."

Whitlam is survived by his four children - Stephen, Catherine, Antony and Nicholas - who confirmed the death. The official statement from Whitlam's family said that he was a "source of inspiration" not only for the family but also for millions of Australians. The Australian reported that there would be a private cremation which would be followed by a public memorial service. Whitlam started serving the nation as the prime minister in 1972. Governor-General Sir John Kerr infamously dismissed Whitlam in 1975. Whitlam was the leader of the Labor Party from 1967 to 1977. Many consider him to be a defining factor of the Labor Party in recent times.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott called Whitlam a "giant of his time" in his official statement on the death of his predecessor. He remembered Whitlam's lifetime of service for the Royal Australian Air Force. He also recalled Whitlam's service as an ambassador and as the prime minister of the country. Abbott specifically appreciated Whitlam's efforts to strengthen Australia's ties with China. Abbott said that Whitlam, the first Australian prime minister to visit China, had been responsible for building modern relationship between the two countries. Abbott called it Whitlam's "enduring legacy" as he mentioned that China had now become Australia's biggest trading partner.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au