Arthur Corbett (public servant)

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Arthur Corbett
Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation
In office
3 April 1939 – 16 February 1944
Personal details
Born
Arthur Brownlow Corbett

(1877-02-18)18 February 1877
New Shoreham, Essex, England
Died20 March 1970(1970-03-20) (aged 93)
Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting placeToowong Cemetery
NationalityAustralia Australian
Spouse(s)Evelyn Mary Byrne
(m. 1905)
OccupationPublic servant

Arthur Brownlow Corbett MBE (18 February 1877 – 20 March 1970) was a senior Australian public servant. He was Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation from April 1939 until February 1944.

Life and career[edit]

Corbett was born to parents Susan Ellen (née Kerr) and George Frederick Corbett on 18 February 1877 at New Shoreham, Sussex, England.[1] He and his family migrated to Queensland, Australia in 1890.

As an electrical and mechanical engineer, Corbett held several roles in the Postmaster-General's Department, including to reorganise the Brisbane mail services in 1924, and as superintendent of mails in Sydney in 1927.[2]

On 3 April 1939, Corbett began his term as Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation,[3] moving to Melbourne to take up the role but planning to return to Queensland on his retirement.[4]

In February 1944, a new Director-General was appointed for the Department of Civil Aviation,[5] with Corbett continuing as Acting Director-General until August 1944.[6]

Corbett died on 20 March 1970 at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane and was buried at Toowong Cemetery.[1]

Awards[edit]

In January 1938, Corbett was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his service as Deputy Director in the Queensland branch of the Postmaster-General's Department.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Prentice, S.A., "Corbett, Arthur Brownlow (1877–1970)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 2 February 2015
  2. ^ "Big job for Mr. Corbett: Civil Aviation Director". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Queensland. 16 March 1939. p. 1.
  3. ^ CA 29: Department of Civil Aviation, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 15 March 2020, retrieved 2 February 2015
  4. ^ "Civil Aviation: New Director-General". Daily Mercury. Mackay, Queensland. 16 March 1939. p. 7.
  5. ^ "Civil Aviation: New Director-General Appointed". The West Australian. 17 February 1944. p. 2.
  6. ^ "Good Service To Civil Aviation". News. Adelaide, South Australia. 7 August 1944. p. 2.
  7. ^ "Search Australian Honours: CORBETT, Arthur Brownlow - The Order of the British Empire - Member (Civil)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 2 February 2015
Government offices
Preceded byas Secretary of the Department of Defence Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation
1939 – 1944
Succeeded by