Peter Hollingworth

The Right Reverend Peter Hollingworth AC OBE
23rd Governor-General of Australia
In office 29 June 2001 – 28 May 2003
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Sir William Deane
Succeeded by	Michael Jeffery
Archbishop of Brisbane
In office 1989–2001
Preceded by	John Grindrod
Succeeded by	Phillip Aspinall
Personal details
Born	10 April 1935 (1935-04-10) Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Spouse(s)	Ann Hollingworth
Profession	Bishop
Religion	Christian (Anglican)

Peter John Hollingworth AC, OBE (born 10 April 1935) is an Australian Anglican bishop. He served as the Archbishop of Brisbane for 11 years before becoming the 23rd Governor-General of Australia from 2001 until 2003.

Hollingworth's time as governor-general was marred by controversy over allegations that he had not done enough to investigate charges of sexual abuse within the Diocese of Brisbane when he was the archbishop. For much of his tenure he lacked bipartisan support, with key members of the opposition Labor Party calling on him to resign.^{[citation needed]} In May 2003 a report by the Diocese of Brisbane into the handling of the cases was tabled in the Queensland parliament by the Labor Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie. On 28 May 2003, despite maintaining the support of the Prime Minister, John Howard, Hollingworth resigned.

Early life

Hollingworth was born in Adelaide, South Australia, and moved to Melbourne, Victoria in 1940. After attending Lloyd Street and Murrumbeena primary schools he was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne. After completing his secondary school education he began work for BHP, an Australian mining company. Hollingworth apparently often spent his lunch hours in St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne where the idea of becoming a priest was first suggested to him.

Education and career

Hollingworth was conscripted for National Service in 1953 and, after basic training at the RAAF base at Point Cook, he began working in the chaplain's office and decided to test his vocation to ordained ministry. After matriculating in 1954 he enrolled at the University of Melbourne, residing at Trinity College (University of Melbourne) as a member of its school of theology. He graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Licentiate of Theology. On 6 February 1960 he married Kathleen Ann Turner, whom he had met while on National Service.

After ordination Hollingworth was appointed the priest in charge of St Mary's North Melbourne in a group ministry of the Anglican Inner City Mission within the Melbourne Diocesan Centre. In 1964 he joined the Brotherhood of St Laurence, an independent Anglican welfare organisation, as chaplain and director of youth and children's work, then as director of social policy and research. In 1990 he was appointed as executive director. He served with the Brotherhood of St Laurence for 25 years and, in that time, was involved in many other associated community and welfare bodies.

He was consecrated as a bishop in 1985 and appointed as the Bishop in the Inner City. Before this he completed a Master of Arts degree in social work and wrote several books about his work with the poor which became educational texts.

Governor-General of Australia

On 22 April 2001 the Prime Minister, John Howard, announced that Hollingworth would be appointed Governor-General of Australia upon the completion of Sir William Deane's term. He was the first Christian cleric to hold the post, which generated some controversy.^{[citation needed]} This was permissible due to the separation of church and state in Australia, which prohibits religious tests for public office.^{[citation needed]} The media, however, praised his personal qualities and achievements. On 29 June 2001, Hollingworth was sworn in as Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force. As the governor-general is the Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Australia, Hollingworth was appointed a Companion of the Order (AC) on 29 June 2001. He served until 28 May 2003, when he resigned in controversial circumstances.

Honours

In 1976 Hollingworth was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and in 1988 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his work in church and community. In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal and later the same year was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) upon his appointment as Governor General taking effect. As well as these secular honours he was elected as a canon of St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne in 1980. In 1991 he was named Australian of the Year and was included in the inaugural list of Australian Living Treasures in 1997.

On 21 May 2001 Hollingworth was awarded the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) by George Carey, the then Archbishop of Canterbury. He was awarded the doctorate in recognition of his research, publications, teaching and achievements in the fields of Christian social ethics, social welfare and poverty studies and episcopal leadership. In addition to this doctorate he already had six honorary doctorates from Australian universities.

External links

• Report by the Board of Inquiry

Anglican Communion titles
Preceded by Sir John Grindrod	Archbishop of Brisbane 1990–2001	Succeeded by Phillip Aspinall
Government offices
Preceded by Sir William Deane	Governor-General of Australia 2001–2003	Succeeded by Michael Jeffery
Honorary titles
Preceded by Fred Hollows	Australian of the Year 1991	Succeeded by Mandawuy Yunupingu