Murray Bourchier (diplomat)

Murray Goulburn Madden Bourchier AO (28 March 1925 – 3 July 1981) was an Australian public servant and diplomat.[1]

Murray Bourchier

AO
Born
Murray Goulburn Madden Bourchier

(1925-03-08)8 March 1925
St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
Died3 July 1981(1981-07-03) (aged 56)
Deakin, Canberra, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne (LLB)
Occupations
Spouse
Charlotte Ray Francis
​
​
(m. 1951)​
[1]
Parent

Life and career

Bourchier joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1951 as a cadet in the Department of External Affairs.[2]

In August 1971 Bourchier's appointment as Australian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea was announced.[3] He took up his appointment as head of mission in November 1971.[4]

From 1977 to 1980 Bourchier was Australian Ambassador to the Soviet Union.[1] Relationships between the two countries were tense during the period.[5] In 1979 Bourchier was medically evacuated from Moscow to London where he was diagnosed with a cerebral tumour. He stepped down from his post in August 1980.[1]

In June 1981, Bouchier was appointed an Officer in the general division of the Order of Australia in recognition of his services as a diplomatic representative.[6]

Bourchier died at home in Deakin, Canberra, on Friday 3 July 1981.[2]

References
  1. Woodard, Garry (2007), "Bourchier, Murray Goulburn Madden (1925–1981)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 13 February 2016
  2. "Obituary: Mr Murray Bourchier, former Ambassador to Moscow". The Canberra Times. ACT. 5 July 1981. p. 3.
  3. "Envoy to Korea named". The Canberra Times. ACT. 10 August 1971. p. 7.
  4. CA 6952: Australian Embassy, Republic of Korea [Seoul], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 11 January 2016
  5. "Russia bugged Australian embassy". The Canberra Times. 1 January 2009. Archived from the original on 23 December 2011.
  6. "Two new Canberra knights created, 44 other people honoured". The canberra Times. ACT. 13 June 1981. p. 10.


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