Nationality Australian Occupation Public servant | Name Charles McFadyen | |
Full Name Charles Hector McFadyen Born 29 October 1892 ( 1892-10-29 ) Died 26 August 1965(1965-08-26) (aged 72) Resting place Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Victoria | ||
Charles Hector McFadyen (29 October 1892 – 26 August 1965) was a senior Australian public servant, best known for his time heading the Department of Shipping and Transport.
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In 1920, he played four games with the Essendon Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Life and career
McFadyen was born on 29 October 1892.
McFadyen enlisted in the First Australian Imperial Force in May 1915.
In 1920, McFadyen played Australian rules football with Essendon in the VFL. In his short football career he played four games during which he scored two goals.
In 1927, McFadyen moved to Canberra. In the city he joined the Canberra branch of the Australian Labor Party, and served as president of the branch for four years. In September 1935 he contested the Hospital Board election. He was successful and ran for re-election in 1938. McFadyen was also president of the Canberra Public Service Welfare Committee. McFadyen transferred back to Melbourne in 1939 and resigned from his position as Chairman of the Hospital Board.
In early 1948, McFadyen acted as director of the division of industrial development in the Department of Post-War Reconstruction. McFadyen was appointed Secretary of the Department of Shipping and Fuel in December 1948, promoted to the position from his role as Deputy Director of the Division of Economic Policy in the post-war reconstruction department. He was responsible for the mining, shipping and ports in the role.
Under his leadership, the Department was transitioned to become the Department of Fuel, Shipping and Transport in March 1950, and the Department of Shipping and Transport in May 1951.
In 1954, McFadyen presided over a top-level shipping conference in Launceston, which enquired into Tasmanian shipping and freights.
McFadyen retired when he turned 65 years of age (65 was retirement age at the time), and he was succeeded by D.C. Williams.
McFadyen died on 26 August 1965.
Awards
In the 1955 Queen's Birthday Honours, McFadyen was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services as Secretary of the Department of Shipping and Transport.