Monday marked the 75^th anniversary of Chifley's elevation to the highest office in the land, a remarkable achievement for a humble man from a humble background.

But just as remarkable is the legacy left by Ben Chifley and his important role in shaping the way modern Australia looks, thinks and works.

His "light on the hill" speech, delivered to the Labor faithful at a party conference near the end of his term as prime minister in 1949, remains one of the great Australian political addresses and is still regarded as the blueprint for any Labor politician looking to serve their community.

"I try to think of the Labor movement not as putting an extra sixpence into somebody's pocket, or making somebody prime minister or premier, but as a movement bringing something better to the people, better standards of living, greater happiness to the mass of the people," Chifley said.

"We have a great objective - the light on the hill - which we aim to reach by working the betterment of mankind not only here but anywhere we may give a helping hand. If it were not for that, the Labor movement would not be worth fighting for."

But Chifley's administration is remembered for much more than that.

The most famous image of Ben Chifley shows him standing beside the first Australian-built Holden as it rolled off a Melbourne assembly line in 1948, a major milestone for the Australian manufacturing industry.

His government also achieved major social reforms to improve the lot of working Australians, including a fairer pension system and improved social welfare services, the creation of the Commonwealth Employment Service and taking the first steps towards establishing the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Chifley's leadership helped shape post-war Australia, including a massive influx of European immigrants (many of whom worked on the Snowy Mountain hydro-electric scheme, another Chifley Government initiative).

Most of all, Chifley was a servant of the people with a fierce commitment to helping the people. In return, he enjoyed the love and admiration of the people - most of them, at least.

We may not see his like again.