John William Goodsell (1906 - 1981)

Born 1906 in New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Myrtle Thelma (Austin) Goodsell — married 6 Feb 1932 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Died 1981 at about age 75 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Jack Goodsell is Notable.

Jack Goodsell was born in New South Wales, Australia

John 'Jack' William Goodsell was born in 1906 in Sydney's southern suburbs, New South Wales, Australia. He was the second of three sons of Sidney Goodsell, a salesman, and Lillian Ragan. ^[1] The family later lived briefly in Wollongong (1911) and Parramatta (1913), before settling in Sydney's western suburbs. He was educated at Canterbury Boys’ High School.

Jack obtained work as a grocer’s assistant until receiving his appointment to the New South Wales Public Service on 18th April 1922 as a junior clerk in the Department of Public Works. Eager for advancement, in the late 1920s Jack qualified as an accountant and as a town and shire clerk, and passed the public service promotion examinations.

Jack married Myrtle Austin on 6th February 1932 in Leigh Memorial Methodist Church, Parramatta. ^[2] The couple purchased a house in Ashbury, between Ashfield and Canterbury in Sydney's western suburbs.

During the Second World War, as second-in-charge of the Department of National Emergency Services, Jack worked closely with his minister, James Heffron, who found him a capable and congenial administrator. He was involved in the establishment of the Housing Commission of New South Wales.

In the Queen's Birthday Honours 1954 Jack was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in n recognition of his 'service as Under-Secretary and Comptroller of Accounts in NSW'. ^[3]

In September 1960 he was appointed chairman of the Public Service Board.

In the Queen's Birthday Honours 1968 Jack was created Knight Bachelor as Chairman of the Public Service Board. ^[4]

Aged about 75 years, he passed away in 1981 in Sydney. ^[5] He was survived by his wife and their three daughters.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #25822/1906; registered at Marrickville
2. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #1530/1932; surname incorrectly listed as Goodskil
3. ↑ Australian Honours: CMG; accessed 8 Jan 2024
4. ↑ Australian Honours: Knight Bachelor; accessed 8 Jan 2024
5. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #14698/1981

See also

• Curnow, Ross. 'Goodsell, Sir John William (Jack) (1906–1981)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2007; accessed online 8 Jan 2024.