1960-1969 By Toufic Haddad Jan 31, 1960 Reserve bank of Australia is established Jan 31, 1961 Contraceptive pill become available to all Australian women Jan 31, 1962 Small Australian Army sent to Vietnam to operate with the United States Jan 31, 1963 John F. Kennedy was assassinated Jan 31, 1964 The Beatles tour Australia Jan 31, 1965 Prime Minister Menzies commits the first regular military forces to serve in combat in Vietnam Jan 31, 1966 Menzies retires as Prime Minister after 16 years Jan 31, 1967 Japan becomes Australia's largest export market Jan 31, 1968 John Gorton became the 19th Australian Prime Minister in unusual circumstances Jan 31, 1969 A peak force of more than a third of Australia's combat streangth is deployed in Vietnam