It's more than four decades since a sequence of events of which, it's said, were born some of the most important reforms in Australia's political history.



In April 1974 the Prime Minister, unable to pass a number of bills through the Senate, dissolved both houses of parliament and called an election.



Labor was returned to power, but again it was unable to secure support in the Senate for what would come to be regarded as groundbreaking legislation in areas including health, voting and discrimination.



Gough Whitlam responded by taking the unusual step of calling a joint sitting of both houses of parliament, where the legislation was approved.



Monash University's Professor Jenny Hocking has written extensively about the life and work of Gough Whitlam.

She says the fixation on the Whitlam dismissal has meant Australians have missed out on getting to better understand Gogh Whitlam's achievements.



"It's polarised people, it has meant that we've debated endlessly that single month between October and November 1975 as if nothing had come before for Whitlam, who had of course had been in the parliament for 20 years," she said.

Full interview: Professor Jenny Hocking speaks with Kristina Kukolja

Veteran senator and ALP historian John Faulkner wished the former prime minister happy birthday in a Senate speech on Thursday night that focused on a long and active life after politics.



Mr Whitlam had academic posts in Australia and overseas, with particular interests in China, constitutional change and electoral reform.



He was Australia's ambassador to UNESCO and chaired the general assembly of the World Heritage Convention. Other posts included the senate of Sydney University and chairman of the National Gallery of Australia.



In 1999, he campaigned for the republic.



"Any list of achievements omits how often Gough was there - in his office, at the end of a phone - responding to sometimes detailed inquiries that only he could answer," Senator Faulkner told parliament.



"Only he could add the minutiae, the colour and the human interest."



Senator Faulkner said the former PM's "long and fortunate life" - Mr Whitlam's own description in 1997 - continued.



"Age may have limited his mobility, but not his mission; his senses are slower but his spirit still strong," Senator Faulkner said.



Last Thursday, the pair shared their regular glass of Passiona soft drink.



The Whitlam verdict: "Bloody good, comrade."