Peter Heydon
Sir Peter Heydon | |
|---|---|
| Secretary of the Department of Immigration | |
| In office 6 November 1961 – 15 May 1971 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter Richard Heydon 9 September 1913 Croydon, Sydney |
| Died | 15 May 1971 (aged 57) Canberra |
| Nationality |  Australian |
| Spouse |
Muriel Naomi Slater (m. 1942) |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
| Occupation | Public servant |
Sir Peter Richard Heydon CBE (9 September 1913 – 15 May 1971) was an Australian public servant, policymaker, and diplomat. From 1961 to 1971 he was Secretary of the Department of Immigration.
Life and career[edit]
Peter Heydon was born in Croydon, Sydney, on 9 September 1913.[1] He was educated at Fort Street Boys' High School, and in 1936 joined the Commonwealth Public Service in the Department of External Affairs,[1][2] soon after having been admitted to the NSW bar.[3]
In 1942, Heydon married Muriel Naomi Slater, a Canadian who had been his personal assistant during his appointment to the staff of Richard Casey in Washington.[1] In a eulogy after Heydon's death in 1971, Finlay Crisp described the couple's relationship as having "a tempo, a temper and a tone".[4]
From 1943 to 1944, Heydon served with the Australian legation to the Soviet Union which had just opened at the wartime capital of Kuibyshev.[1] Between May and September 1950, Heydon was chargé d'affaires in charge of the Australian Embassy in the Netherlands.[5] He was soon after appointed Minister to Brazil, serving until 1953.[6] Between 1953 and 1955, Heydon was High Commissioner to New Zealand.[7][8] He was subsequently appointed High Commissioner to India, serving in that position until 1958.[9]
From 1961 until his death in 1971, Heydon was Secretary of the Department of Immigration.[10] He died of a heart attack on 15 May 1971,[1] and was remembered by the prime minister, William McMahon, as one of the best-liked and respected public servants in Canberra.[11] He was survived by his wife, Lady Heydon, and three children – two daughters and a son, John Dyson Heydon, who was later made a judge of the High Court of Australia.[4]
Awards[edit]
Heydon was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1959 for service as High Commissioner to India.[12] He was made a Knight Bachelor in June 1970, for his service as Secretary of the Department of Immigration.[13]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Nethercote, J.R. (1996), "Heydon, Sir Peter Richard (1913–1971)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 1 March 2014
- ^ "New envoy". The Argus. Victoria. 4 February 1955. p. 10.
- ^ "For Big post in N.Z." The Advertiser. Adelaide, SA. 14 January 1953. p. 3.
- ^ a b "Obituary - Naomi Heydon: Gracious lady, sportswoman and linguist". The Canberra Times. 31 December 1995. p. 2.
- ^ CA 6917: Australian Embassy, The Netherlands [The Hague], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 28 January 2016
- ^ "New Minister Sails for Brazil". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria. 12 January 1951. p. 2.
- ^ "For NZ Post". Daily Examiner. Grafton, NSW. 18 February 1953. p. 1.
- ^ "New Zealand Rep. is Replaced". The Northern Miner. Charters Towers, Queensland. 15 January 1953. p. 4.
- ^ "High Commissioner to India". The Canberra Times. ACT. 4 February 1955. p. 2.
- ^ CA 51: Department of Immigration, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 6 July 2014
- ^ McMahon, William (16 May 1971). "Death of Sir Peter Heydon - Tribute by the Prime Minister" (Press release). Archived from the original on 5 July 2014.
- ^ "Search Australian Honours: HEYDON, Peter Richard", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 31 January 2019
- ^ "Search Australian Honours: HEYDON, Peter Richard", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 31 January 2019
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