Frank Gordon Thorpe, CMG, MBE (15 February 1885 – 30 March 1967) was a senior Australian public servant. He was Public Service Commissioner between 1936 and 1947.
Frank Gordon | |
|---|---|
| Public Service Commissioner | |
| In office 1936–1947 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Frank Gordon Thorpe 15 February 1885 |
| Died | 30 March 1967 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse(s) | Elsie Rebecca Leake (m. 1917–1921; her death) Vera Hope Donaldson (m. 1926–1967; his death) |
| Occupation | Public servant |
Life and career
editFrank Thorpe was born on 15 February 1885 in Kooreh, Victoria.[1]
Thorpe started his Commonwealth Public Service career in 1901, one of the Australia's earliest Commonwealth public servants, appointed as a personal clerk to the deputy Postmaster General in the Postmaster-General's Department.[1] When Thorpe volunteered to serve in World War I, he was rejected and instead selected for temporary duty at the Department of Defence.[2]
In 1921 he joined the Prime Minister's Department as a senior clerk.[1]
Thorpe moved to the Commonwealth Public Service Board in 1923, appointed as an assistant-inspector.[1] He was appointed Public Service Commissioner in 1937.[2] He continued working as Commissioner of the Board throughout World War II, including during periods of increasing pressure.[1]
Thorpe retired in 1947 after 49 years in the public service.[3] His farewell function was presided over by Stuart McFarlane, then Secretary of the Treasury and more than 110 senior public servants attended.[4]
After retirement, Thorpe was appointed Chairman of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission Promotions Appeal Board for two years from 1953.[5]
Thorpe died in Canberra in 1967.[1]
Awards
editIn June 1936, Thorpe was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.[6] He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in June 1939 whilst he was serving as Chairman of the Public Service Board.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Calaby, Matthew (2002). "Frank Gordon Thorpe (1885–1967)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 16. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Archived from the original on 28 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Mr. F.G. Thorpe: P.S. Commissioner Cabinet Appointment". The Canberra Times. 10 February 1937. p. 2.
- ^ "Personal Paragraphs", The Argus, p. 2, 25 March 1947
- ^ "Mr. F.G. Thorpe Farewelled By Public Servants". The Canberra Times. 25 March 1947. p. 2.
- ^ CP 275: Frank Gordon THORPE CMG, MBE, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 12 September 2014
- ^ "Search Australian Honours: THORPE, Frank Gordon", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 28 April 2014
- ^ "Search Australian Honours: THORPE, Frank Gordon", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 28 April 2014