Peter_Henderson_(Australian_public_servant)

Peter Henderson (Australian public servant)

Peter Henderson (Australian public servant)

Australian public servant

Peter Graham Faithfull Henderson, AC (1 October 1928 – 25 September 2016) was an Australian senior public servant. He was Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs between 1979 and 1984. He was also well known for being the son-in-law of Robert Menzies.

Quick Facts AC, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs ...

Early life and marriage

Henderson was born in October 1928.[1] He was educated at Geelong Grammar School, Victoria, and Merton College, Oxford (1947-1950).[2] In May 1955, Henderson married Heather Menzies, daughter of Robert Menzies, the Australian Prime Minister.[3][1][4] They had their first child, a daughter, in March 1956, in Jakarta.[5]

Career and later life

Henderson began his career in the Australian Public Service in the Department of External Affairs in 1951.[1]

He was appointed Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1979.[6] During his time at the department he introduced rules to prevent couples being posted together, which was interpreted by those it affected as a "pincer movement" against career equality for female diplomats.[7]

At the end of his public service career in September 1984, Henderson was offered the choice of a demotion or retirement—he chose to retire, and denounced the Australian Government for using the diplomatic service as a "depository... for people they want to get rid of in Canberra".[8]

Henderson died in Canberra on 25 September 2016.[9][10]

Awards

In January 1985, Henderson was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in recognition of distinguished public service.[11]

Notes

  1. [1]
    CP 948: Peter Graham Faithfull HENDERSON AC, KStJ, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 13 March 2020, retrieved 10 February 2014
  2. [2]
    Levens, R.G.C., ed. (1964). Merton College Register 1900–1964. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. p. 377.
  3. [3]
    "Keen Interest in Wedding of Miss Heather Menzies". The Canberra Times. 30 May 1955. p. 2. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014.
  4. [4]
    "Mr. Peter Henderson Home on Leave". 16 May 1955. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014.
  5. [5]
    "Daughter For Mrs. Peter Henderson". The Canberra Times. 7 March 1956. p. 4. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014.
  6. [6]
    CA 1382: Department of Foreign Affairs, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 28 December 2013
  7. [7]
    Broinowski, Alison (7 December 2013). "Sexist baggage revealed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013.
  8. [8]
    "Former FA head condemns 'dumping'". The Canberra Times. 31 January 1985. p. 1.
  9. [9]
    "Tributes & Celebrations". Canberra Times. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  10. [10]
    Towell, Noel (27 September 2016). "Canberra loses its scourge of public service 'yes men'". Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016.
  11. [11]
    Search Australian Honours: HENDERSON, Peter Graham Faithful, Australian Government

References and further reading

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