Sir Alan Carmody CBE was an Australian public servant, rising to be appointed Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Alan Thomas Carmody was born on 8th September 1920 in Malvern, Victoria, Australia. He was the second of at least four sons of decorated war veteran Thomas Carmody MSM and Elsie Ramsay. [1]
After graduating from St Patrick's College, Goulburn, New South Wales, at sixteen years of age, Alan joined the Commonwealth Public Service on 18th March 1937 as a clerk for the Department of Trade and Customs in Canberra. He entered the University of Melbourne to study commerce. Whilst there, he served in the Melbourne University Rifles. [2]
On 23rd March 1942, Alan enlisted in the Citizen Air Force of the Royal Australian Air Force. He was commissioned in February 1943, serving as a radar officer and was demobbed on 3rd November 1945 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. His final posting was to Headquarters Eastern Area. [3]
Alan married Elizabeth Brennan on 25th October 1944 in St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Adelaide, South Australia. [4] The couple subsequently had three sons and two daughters.
After studying at the Canberra University College he graduated from the University of Melbourne with Bachelor degrees in Arts (BA) in 1946 and Commerce (BCOM) in 1947. Further study resulted in a Masters of Commerce (MCom) in 1950.
After working his way up to deputy-secretary of the Department of Trade, Alan was appointed Comptroller-General of the Department of Customs and Excise, Head of the Department of Customs and Excise (later the Department of Police and Customs), the Secretary of the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs and Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1964 in recognition of his service as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Trade. [5] He was upgraded in the New Year Honours 1971 to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his service as Comptroller-General of Customs. [6] In the New Year Honours 1978, Alan was created Knight Bachelor in recognition of his service to the Public Service. [7]
Aged 57 years, he passed away on 12th April 1978 at home in Canberra. A funeral service was held in St Christopher's Cathedral, Manuka, Canberra. [8] He was survived by his wife and five children.
See also:
C > Carmody > Alan Thomas Carmody CBE
Categories: Malvern, Victoria | Royal Australian Air Force, World War II | Australia, Public Servants | University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria | Officers of the Order of the British Empire | Commanders of the Order of the British Empire | Knights Bachelor, Elizabeth II Creation | Australia, Notables in the Public Service and Professions | Notables