Bede Bertrand Callaghan CBE FAIM (1912 - 1993)

Born 16 Mar 1912 in Wickham, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Theresa (Brewer) Callaghan — married 31 Aug 1940 in Coogee, New South Wales, Australia

Died 19 Sep 1993 at age 81 in Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Bede Callaghan CBE FAIM is Notable.

Sir Bede Callaghan CBE FAIM was an Australian banker and university administrator; being managing director of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia from 1965 to 1976 and chancellor of the University of Newcastle from 1977 to 1988.

Bede Callaghan CBE FAIM was born in New South Wales, Australia

Bede Bertrand Callaghan was born on 16th March 1912 in Wickham, New South Wales, Australia. He was the younger son of Stanislaus Callaghan, a school teacher, and Amy Ryan. ^[1] The family moved about as his father was transferred between schools. They had been living in Narrabri, west of Amy's home town of Armidale on the New England Tableland, but were then living in the Newastle region where Stanislaus had been raised. They shortly afterward briefly moved to Inverell, on the New England Tableland, ^[2] before settling back in Newcastle. Bede was educated at Newcastle High School, where his father was then teaching. ^[3]

Upon completing his formal education at fourteen, Bede obtained work as an office boy in a mining company. The following year, 1927, he began working at a Newcastle branch of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Bede was transferred to the Commonwealth Bank branch in Cootamundra in 1934 and to Sydney a year later. ^[3] His poor eyesight precluded active service in the armed forces during the Second World War, although he was performing an essential service with the bank.

Bede married Mollie Brewer on 31st August 1940 in St Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church, Coogee, in Sydney's eastern suburbs. ^[4] The couple subsequently had three daughters, one of whom, Kathryn, married Hungarian immigrant Nick Greiner, premier of New South Wales 1988-1992.

In 1952, he was posted to England as assistant manager of the bank's London office. From 1954 the couple lived in Washington DC, in the United States whilst Bede was the bank's representative on the boards of the International Monetary Fund and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Upon his return to Australia in 1960 he was appointed manager of the Commonwealth Development Bank (the CBA had been re-organised into three principal arms—the Trading Bank, the Savings Bank, and the Commonwealth Development Bank—collectively known as the Commonwealth Banking Corporation). In May 1965, he succeeded as managing director of the Commonwealth Banking Corporation, a position he held until 1976. Bede was also president of the Bankers' Institute of Australasia from 1972 to 1974. ^[3] He retired from the bank in 1976.

In 1966, Callaghan was appointed to the inaugural council of the University of Newcastle, located in his home city. He was appointed deputy chancellor in 1973, and then served as chancellor from 1977 to 1988. After his retirement the suburb of Callaghan, in which the university sat, was named in his honour. ^[5]

Bede was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1968 for his service as managing director of the Commonwealth Bank. ^[6] He was created Knight Bachelor in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1976 for 'services to banking'. ^[7] The Australian Institute of Management awarded him the 1974 John Storey Medal, and in 1977 he received the Sydney Rotary Club's vocational service award. In 1973 the university awarded him an honorary doctorate of science.

A fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (FAIM) since 1960, Bede was a member of the council of the New South Wales division (1966–76) and chairman of the Australian Administrative Staff College (1969–76). In retirement he was chairman of the advisory board of Lewisham Hospital (1976–88) and president of Warrawee Bowling Club (1982–84). He was awarded a papal knighthood, the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Sylvester, in 1992 for services to the Roman Catholic Church.

Aged 81 years, he passed away on 19th September 1993 in Wahroonga, New South Wales and his remains buried in Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens, North Ryde. ^[8] He was survived by his wife and daughters, and their families.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #23753/1912
2. ↑ ascertained from place of birth registration of younger sibling
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Stapledon, Nigel. 'Callaghan, Sir Bede Bertrand (1912–1993)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published online 2017; accessed online 10 Jan 2024
4. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #16957/1940; registered at Randwick
5. ↑ The University of Newcastle Australia Living Histories; accessed 10 Jan 2024
6. ↑ Australian Honours: CBE; accessed 10 Jan 2024
7. ↑ Australian Honours: Knight Bachelor; accessed 10 Jan 2024
8. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #33778/1993; mother recorded as Amy Mabel

See also

• Stapledon, Nigel. 'Callaghan, Sir Bede Bertrand (1912–1993)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published online 2017; accessed online 10 Jan 2024.
• Wikipedia: Bede Callaghan; accessed 10 Jan 2024.