Silent Sam Calder had four careers and all were vital to the security and development of both the Northern Territory and Australia.

In his first career he was a Typhoon flying ace in World War II, completing 120 missions over France and Germany between 1942 and 1944. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

In his second career Sam was chief pilot for Connellan Airways in the Northern Territory, pioneering the aerial mail-runs that conquered the tyranny of distance for outback settlements and cattle stations.

In his third career he was a fighting Territory cattle-station manager, battling to save his stock from deadly gidyea poisoning on Argadarga station.

In his fourth career Silent Sam became one of the most successful Federal politicians the Northern Territory has ever had. during his fourteen years—from 1966 to 1980—in Australia's Federal Parliament, in Canberra, ACT, he won for the Northern Territory representative the right to vote, helped win a fully elected Legislative Assembly and used his influence in his Party to help bring investment dollars so essential if the Territory was to grow and develop.