Donald Robert Willesee was born on 14 April 1916 in Derby, Western Australia and educated in Carnarvon at State and Catholic Schools. In 1930, he became a postal clerk in Carnarvon and, in 1936, was promoted to Telegraphist in Perth. He later became Acting Secretary to the Postal Institute in Perth, and Education and Welfare Officer in 1944. Willesee joined the Australian Labor Party at the age of 18, and was Vice President of the Western Australian Executive and sometime delegate to the Metropolitan Labor Council.

At the December 1949 general election, Willesee was elected to federal Parliament as a Labor Senator for Western Australia. His term started on 22 February 1950 and, at that time, he was Australia's youngest Senator. In the early period of his Parliamentary career, Willesee was a member of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances (1952-66), Opposition Whip (1959-66) then Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (1966-67), a member of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs (1967-69), Senate Privileges Committee (1969-73) and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (1969-72). In this period he also represented Australia at Conferences in Canada, Japan and East Asia, and was present at the first meeting of the Papua New Guinea Legislative Council (October 1960).

In the Whitlam Government, Willesee was initially appointed Special Minister of State, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, Minister Assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Whitlam) and Vice President of the Federal Executive Council (1972-73). He was later appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs (1973-75). In the latter role, there was some overlap with his responsibilities as Special Minister of State until Lionel Bowen took over that portfolio at the end of November 1973. Willesee then gave his full attention to Foreign Affairs. He remained a member of the Federal Executive Council but was no longer Vice President. While Willesee was Minister for Foreign Affairs, diplomatic relations were established with the Latin American countries of Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica and relations between Australia, Mexico, Argentine and Peru were fostered. He also made several official visits overseas, including to the 5th Anniversary Independence Celebrations in the Republic of Nauru (January 1973), and led Australian delegations to the United Nations General Assembly (October 1973) and the Conference on the Law of the Sea at Caracas (June 1974).

In June 1975 Willesee was a candidate for the Presidency of the United Nations General Assembly but withdrew. He retired from federal politics in November 1975, following the dismissal of the Whitlam Government, and did not contest the general election a month later. His decision was influenced by the ill-health of his wife.

Don Willesee died in Perth on 9 September 2003 and was given a state funeral on 15 September 2003.

Sources:

Canberra Times, 10 and 16 September 2003
Parliamentary Handbook, 19th ed (1975), p 231 and Supplement (1976), p 209
Who's Who in Australia 1977, p 1103

Agency associated with person unregistered

Sep 1952-       1958: Australian Delegation to the Commonwealth
                      Parliamentary Association Conference, Ottawa -
                      Member
    1958-   Oct 1960: Australian Delegation to Japan - Member
Oct 1960-   Jun 1965: Commonwealth Parliamentary delegation to the
                      first meeting of the Papua New Guinea
                      Legislation Council in its new chambers
Jun 1965-02 Feb 1967: Parliamentary Delegation to East Asia - Member
Jun 1969-05 Dec 1972: Australian Parliamentary Mission to Canada -
                      Member