J. A. L. Shaw
CBE, DSO
5th Commissioner for Main Roads
In office
20 April 1962 – 25 August 1967
MinisterPat Hills
Pat Morton
Preceded byHoward Macoun Sherrard
Succeeded byRussell Thomas
Deputy Chief Commissioner of the City of Sydney
In office
14 November 1967 – 26 September 1969
Serving with Treatt (Chief), Pettingell
Preceded byJohn Armstrong (Lord Mayor)
Succeeded bySir Emmet McDermott (Lord Mayor)
Personal details
Born(1902-08-26)26 August 1902
Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia
Died20 April 1983(1983-04-20) (aged 80)
Manly, New South Wales, Australia
Resting placeFrenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery
SpouseNellie Violet Hicks (m. 1926; d. 1974)[1]
ChildrenJohn Shaw; David Lachlan Shaw
EducationSydney Technical High School
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
ProfessionEngineer and public servant

John Alexander Lachlan Shaw CBE, DSO (26 August 1902 – 20 April 1983) was an Australian civil engineer and New South Wales public servant, who served as the NSW Commissioner for Main Roads from 1962 to 1967.[2]

Early life and education

John Shaw was born on 26 August 1902 in Marrickville, New South Wales, the son of John and Alice Shaw.[3] He attended Sydney Technical High School and thereafter studied civil engineering at the University of Sydney.[4] After graduating with honours with a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in civil engineering in 1925, in February 1926 Shaw was recruited as an assistant engineer into the newly established Main Roads Board of New South Wales.[4][5] In 1928 he was included amongst the first six divisional engineer appointments made by the Board, taking up the position of Divisional Engineer of the Lower Northern Division at Tamworth in August 1928.[5] In May 1932, he was transferred to Newcastle to set up the divisional office of the newly-established Department of Main Roads, and then later was appointed the Metropolitan Engineer based in Sydney. Shaw became a Member of the Institution of Engineers (Australia), a Member of the Institute of Highway Engineers in London, and a Fellow of the Australian Planning Institute.[5]

In 1926 he married Nellie Violet Hicks in Chatswood.[4] Their first child, John Shaw, was born at Manly on 3 April 1927.[6] A second son, David Lachlan Shaw, was born in Newcastle on 28 October 1932.[7]

Military service

When the Second World War broke out, Shaw took a leave of absence from the department and enlisted on 8 July 1940 in the 2/12 Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers.[8] As part of the 8th Division in the Second Australian Imperial Force, Shaw was sent over in February 1941 to Malaya to assist in the defence of Singapore. He surrendered along with all allied forces in Malaya on 31 January 1942 and was taken prisoner, being held in the notorious Changi Prison.[9] Liberated at the end of the war, he was discharged on 24 January 1946 with the rank of major.[8] On 6 March 1947 for "Organisation, courage and coolness in Malaya" he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on the recommendation of the Commander of the 8th Division, Major-General Cecil Callaghan, and the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant-general Vernon Sturdee.[10][11][12] He was presented with his award by the Governor-General of Australia, Sir William McKell, on 24 January 1949 at Admiralty House, Sydney.[13] His award citation reads:

During operations in Malaya in 1942, Major Shaw, the Officer Commanding 2/12 Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers, was responsible for the demolitions between Segamat and Johore Bahru, and, when on Singapore Island, for the destruction of oil stores and the wireless mast at Kranji. During the withdrawal of the 27th Australian Infantry Brigade from Gemas to Singapore he personally supervised all demolitions and remained behind with his detachments when the Infantry had withdrawn to ensure that they were successfully carried out. On most occasions this work had to be carried out under heavy fire. His organisation, courage and coolness under enemy fire were largely responsible for the great success of this work which proved very valuable on many occasions. He was at all times an inspiration and example to his men.[10]

Department of Main Roads

On returning to civilian life in Australia in March 1946, Shaw resumed his work with the Department of Main Roads as Assistant Chief Engineer, and as Chief Engineer from August 1946.[5][14] In 1950 he visited the United Kingdom and North America on an official mission to study highway engineering. Rising to be Assistant Commissioner from 23 September 1953, Shaw oversaw various major projects such as the Warringah Freeway, the Gladesville Bridge, and the Roseville Bridge, at a time of major public investment in road projects.[5][15][16][17]

After eight years as assistant commissioner, when commissioner Sherrard retired at the statutory retirement age of 65, Shaw rose to the office of Commissioner for Main Roads from 20 April 1962.[4][18][19] As commissioner, in the 1966 New Year Honours he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).[20][21] He received the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal in 1953.[22] Shaw retired as Commissioner on 25 August 1967.[5]

Later career and legacy

After his retirement John Shaw served as the Deputy Chief Commissioner of the City of Sydney from its dismissal by the Askin Government on 14 November 1967 to 26 September 1969, being responsible for implementing the Askin Government's plans for reorganising the City of Sydney.[23][24][25] Shaw also served as the National President of the Australian Road Federation from 1968 to 1979. He is the only Australian ever to have been honoured by the International Road Federation as "Man of the Year" in 1968.[4][26] Shaw was then elected at the 6 February 1969 Election for the 1st Constituency of the Sydney County Council, which was responsible for the electricity network and utility services throughout much of Sydney.[27] In January 1971, he was elected as chairman of the council, expressing his interest in the beautification of street electricity infrastructure: "I think that if undergrounding cannot be done then the poles should be made more attractive and erected straighter."[28]

A long term resident of Manly and Balgowlah on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Shaw died at Manly Hospital on 20 April 1983 at the ago of 80.[29] Shaw's funeral was held on 26 April 1983 at St Matthew's Anglican Church, Manly, and he was buried at Frenchs Forest Cemetery.[30]

In his memory, the "John Shaw Award" was initiated in the Queensland Region of the Australian Road Federation (now known as Roads Australia) in acknowledgment of "his outstanding contribution to roads".[4] The national body of Roads Australia also has an award in his honour: the "John Shaw Medal", which is considered as one of the most significant achievements in the Australian road transport sector.[4] In 1991, his son established the "JAL and DL Shaw Award" with the gift of $10 000 in memory of his father, for graduates of the University of Sydney Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.[31]

References

  1. ↑ "Personal Notices - Deaths". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 December 1974. p. 24. SHAW, Nellie Violet. — December 24, 1974 (at hospital), of Addison Road, Manly, beloved wife of John, loved mother of John and David, and fond grandmother of their children. Aged 75 years.
  2. ↑ "Former main roads chief dies, aged 81". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 1983. p. 8.
  3. ↑ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 27 August 1902. p. 1. Retrieved 9 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Roads Australia – John Shaw". Roads Australia. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Department of Main Roads New South Wales Annual Report 1966-67". OpenGov NSW. State of New South Wales. 2 October 1967. p. 18. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 6 April 1927. p. 16. Retrieved 9 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 12 November 1932. p. 12. Retrieved 9 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. 1 2 World War II Nominal Roll: Archived 16 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine Shaw, John Alexander Lachlan – Army Service
  9. ↑ "Prisoners of War – J A L Shaw". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  10. 1 2 NAA: B883 Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947 – NX34966 – SHAW JOHN ALEXANDER LACHLAN, accessed 9 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Maj John Alexander Lachlan SHAW - Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (Imperial)". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. 6 March 1947. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "No. 37898". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 4 March 1947. p. 1089.
  13. ↑ "DSO award record" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  14. ↑ "Mr. J. A. L. Shaw Chief Road Engineer". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 21 August 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 9 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ↑ "New Assistant Road Chief". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 24, 006. New South Wales, Australia. 15 September 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ↑ "TRANSPORT (DIVISION OF FUNCTIONS) ACT, 1932-1952". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 168. New South Wales, Australia. 25 September 1953. p. 3075. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ↑ "TRANSPORT (DIVISION OF FUNCTIONS) ACT, 1932, AS AMENDED". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 92. New South Wales, Australia. 12 August 1960. p. 2477. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ↑ "TRANSPORT (DIVISION OF FUNCTIONS) ACT, 1932-1960, AS AMENDED". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 40. New South Wales, Australia. 27 April 1962. p. 1144. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ↑ "Main Roads, Journal of the Department of Main Roads" (PDF). OpenGov NSW. State of New South Wales. June 1962. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  20. ↑ "No. 43854". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 31 December 1965. p. 23.
  21. ↑ "Mr John Alexander Lachlan SHAW - The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil) (Imperial)". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. 12 June 1966. Retrieved 9 September 2023. Commissioner of Main Roads - New South Wales
  22. ↑ "LIST OF CORONATION MEDAL AWARDS". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 2 June 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 18 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ↑ "Commissioners for Sydney named". The Canberra Times. Vol. 42, no. 11, 829. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 26 October 1967. p. 3. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ↑ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT (CITY OF SYDNEY BOUNDARIES) ACT, 1967.—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 114. New South Wales, Australia. 27 October 1967. p. 3908. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ↑ "The Men Who Will Control Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 October 1967. p. 1. John Alexander Lachlan Shaw - Part time. Salary, $2,500. Allowance $750 and $14 a half-day spent on official business. Mr Shaw is 65, is married and has two sons, both professional engineers. He lives in New Street, Balgowlah. Mr Shaw was Commissioner for Main Roads from 1962 until his retirement last month.
  26. ↑ "Man of the Year Award". International Road Federation. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  27. ↑ "Sydney County Council – Ordinary Election". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 1969. p. 61.
  28. ↑ "New man at SCC speaks for himself". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 January 1971. p. 3.
  29. ↑ "Personal Notices - Deaths". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 1983. p. 33. SHAW, John Alexander Lachlan, C.B.E., D.S.O., B.E. - April 20, 1983, at hospital, of Manly, dearly loved husband of the late Nellie Violet Shaw, and loved father and father-in-law of John (deceased) and Jill, David and Janice, devoted grandfather of Douglas and Hamish, loved brother of Lal, and Edna (deceased). Aged 80 years.
  30. ↑ "Personal Notices - Funerals". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 1983. p. 32.
  31. ↑ "Engineering prizes" (PDF). University of Sydney. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
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