Don McMichael

Donald Fred McMichael CBE (28 January 1932 – 10 June 2017) was an Australian marine biologist and senior public servant.

Dr Don McMichael
CBE
Secretary of the Department of Environment and Conservation
In office
1 Jan 1973 – 21 April 1975
Secretary of the Department of the Environment
In office
21 April 1975 – 22 December 1975
Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs
In office
27 February 1978 – 3 November 1980
Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs and Environment
In office
3 November 1980 – 1 February 1984
Director of the National Museum of Australia
In office
1 February 1984 – 31 May 1989
Personal details
Born
Donald Fred McMichael

(1932-01-28)28 January 1932
Rockhampton, Queensland
Died10 June 2017(2017-06-10) (aged 85)
NationalityAustralia Australian
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
Harvard University
OccupationPublic servant

Life and career

McMichael was born in Rockhampton, Queensland on 28 January 1932. He was schooled at North Sydney Technical High School and Newcastle Technical High School, before graduating from University of Sydney in 1952 with first class honours in zoology.[1] Don started his career as an Assistant Curator at the Australian Museum. He then received a Fulbright Travelling Scholarship to undertake an MA and PhD at Harvard University in 1953-55.[2]

His PhD thesis at Harvard University, which he began in 1953, was on Australian freshwater mussels.[3]

On his return to Australia, Don was appointed Curator of Molluscs, and then Deputy Director (from 1967), of the Australian Museum. His positions with the Australian Museum encapsulated themes that were to continue throughout his professional life - public service, environment and museums.[4] In 1969 he was appointed as the second Director of the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, a role he held till 1973.

In December 1975, he was appointed Director of Environment within the new Department of Environment, Housing and Community Development.[5]

In February 1978, McMichael was appointed Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs.[6][7] When that Department was reconstituted as the Department of Home Affairs and Environment, he continued as Secretary.[8] Issues of central importance during his time in the Department included the Tasmanian Dam case and the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park,[9] and the need for a greening Australia program.[10]

McMichael was appointed the first Director of the National Museum of Australia in February 1984, for a seven-year term. At the time, the Museum was expected to open in 1990.[11] In May 1989, McMichael announced his retirement from the role and from the Australian Public Service, describing the last three years at the museum as "quite frustrating and negative" due to the Australian Government's lack of commitment to the museum.[12]

Awards

In June 1981, McMichael was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for public service.[13] He was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 for service as the first Director of the Australian Conservation Foundation.[14]

References
  1. CP 303: Dr Donald Fred MCMICHAEL CBE, AM, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 6 April 2015
  2. Vale: Don MCMICHAEL CBE, EIANZ News Dated 4 July 2017, archived from the original on 22 August 2018, retrieved 22 August 2018
  3. Lunney, Daniel; Hutchings, Pat; Hochuli, Dieter, eds. (September 2010). The Natural History of Sydney. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-9803272-3-6.
  4. Vale: Don MCMICHAEL CBE, EIANZ News Dated 4 July 2017, archived from the original on 22 August 2018, retrieved 22 August 2018
  5. "Environment director". The Canberra Times. 24 December 1975. p. 3.
  6. "Former permanent head made Home Affairs Secretary". The Canberra Times. 1 March 1978. p. 7.
  7. CA 2474: Department of Home Affairs [III], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 6 April 2015
  8. CA 3068: Department of Home Affairs and Environment, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 12 December 2013
  9. Miller, Beverley (1 February 1948). "Basis for setting PS heads' salaries called inappropriate". The Canberra Times. p. 8.
  10. "Need to 'green' Australia agreed". The Canberra Times. 5 May 1982.
  11. Enright, Lin (2 February 1984). "First museum head expects controversy". The Canberra Times. p. 3.
  12. Salins, Christine (26 May 1989). "Director leaves museum after 'frustrating' years in the job". p. 2.
  13. "Search Australian Honours: McMICHAEL, Donald Fred, The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 5 April 2015
  14. "Search Australian Honours: MCMICHAEL, Donald Fred, Centenary Medal", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 5 April 2015
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