Major General The Honourable
Michael Jeffery
AC, CVO, MC
24th Governor-General of Australia
In office
11 August 2003 – 5 September 2008
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Kevin Rudd
Preceded byPeter Hollingworth
Succeeded byDame Quentin Bryce
28th Governor of Western Australia
In office
1 November 1993 – 17 August 2000
MonarchElizabeth II
PremierRichard Court
Preceded bySir Francis Burt
Succeeded byJohn Sanderson
Personal details
Born
Philip Michael Jeffery

(1937-12-12)12 December 1937
Wiluna, Western Australia, Australia
Died18 December 2020(2020-12-18) (aged 83)
SpouseMarlena Kerr
ProfessionMilitary officer
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceAustralian Army
Years of service1955–1993
RankMajor General
CommandsDeputy Chief of the General Staff (1990)
1st Division (1986–88)
1st Brigade (1983–84)
Special Air Service Regiment (1976–77)
2nd Battalion, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (1974–75)
Battles/warsIndonesia-Malaysia confrontation
Vietnam War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of Australia
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Military Cross

Major General Philip Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC (12 December 1937 – 18 December 2020) was a senior Australian Army officer and vice-regal representative. He was the 28th governor of Western Australia from 1993 to 2000, and the 24th governor-general of Australia, serving from 2003 to 2008.

From Perth, Western Australia, Jeffery graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and served in the Malayan Emergency and the Vietnam War, being awarded the Military Cross during the latter conflict.

Jeffery was at various stages commander of the Special Air Service Regiment and the 1st Division, and subsequently Deputy Chief of General Staff, before retiring from active service in 1993. After serving for seven years as Governor of Western Australia, Jeffery was appointed Governor-General of Australia in 2003, following the resignation of Peter Hollingworth. He was the first career Australian Army officer to hold the position, and was succeeded by Quentin Bryce.

Early life and military career

Jeffery was born in Wiluna, Western Australia, on 12 December 1937,[1] and was educated at Kent Street Senior High School. At 16 he left Perth to attend the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in Canberra.[2]

After graduating in 1958, he served in a number of junior positions before being posted to Malaya in 1962 for operational service. From 1966 to 1969 he served in Papua New Guinea. During this posting, he married Marlena Kerr of Sydney, with whom he had three sons and a daughter. This was followed by a tour of duty in the Vietnam War, during which he was awarded the Military Cross (MC).[3][4]

In 1972, Jeffery was promoted to lieutenant colonel,[5] commanding the 2nd Battalion of the Pacific Islands Regiment from 1974 to 1975. He assumed command of the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) in Perth from 7 January 1976 until 22 October 1977, and was then promoted to colonel as the first Director of the Army's Special Action Forces in 1979.[6]

From 1982 to 1983, Jeffery headed Australia's national counter-terrorist co-ordination authority. In 1985 he was promoted to major general, being appointed to command the 1st Division the following year. In 1990 he became Deputy Chief of the General Staff and in 1991 he was appointed Assistant Chief of the General Staff for Materiel.[6]

Jeffery retired from the army in 1993, and was appointed to the ceremonial position of Honorary Colonel of the SASR.[7]

Career

Governor of Western Australia (1993–2000)

In November 1993, Jeffery was appointed Governor of Western Australia and in June 1996 he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).[8] He was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) on 1 April 2000.[5][9]

During his seven years in the post he made a number of public statements of his conservative views on marriage, sex and education. He received some criticism from the Labor opposition and sections of the media for appearing to take positions on political issues.[10]

Governor-General of Australia (2003–2008)

Following the resignation of Peter Hollingworth as Governor-General of Australia, Prime Minister John Howard announced on 22 June 2003 that he had chosen Jeffery to succeed Hollingworth. He was formally appointed by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia and sworn in on 11 August 2003, becoming the first Australian career soldier to become governor-general.[11]

Jeffrey has represented Australia at multiple royal weddings, including the Wedding of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, and Mary Donaldson and the Wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.[12]

In 2005, Jeffery became a co-patron of the private, non-profit Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association (ACFEA), founded by Chinese-Australian businessman Chau Chak Wing.[13] The organization promoted bilateral and international dialogue, particularly between China and Australia, having established the annual Imperial Springs International Forum in 2014.[14]

On 8 April 2005, Jeffery represented Australia at the funeral of Pope John Paul II.[12]

In 2007, in his position as governor-general, Jeffery was appointed as the colonel-in-chief of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, succeeding the previous colonel-in-chief, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.[15]

Jeffery was the Chief Scout of Australia.[16][17]

Jeffery left Yarralumla prior to the swearing-in of his successor, Quentin Bryce, the former Governor of Queensland. Bryce was sworn in on 5 September 2008.[18][19]

Career after office

On 23 October 2012, at the National Farmers' Federation Congress in Canberra, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the appointment of Jeffery as Australia's first Advocate for Soil Health.[20] Gillard noted that, as Governor-General, Jeffery had a passion for regional development and the future of our rural industries, a commitment he continued after leaving office.[20] Prime Minister Tony Abbott extended Jeffery's appointment[21] as the national Advocate for Soil Health until December 2014, indicating Jeffery would continue to raise public awareness of the role soil plays in underpinning sustainable productivity, delivering quality ecosystem services and helping to meet global challenges including food security and climate change.[22]

In June 2020, Jeffery stepped down from this role, now the Patron of the Soil Cooperative Research Centre, due to illness.[23]

Honours and awards

Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) – Civil division1996 Queen's Birthday Honours[8]
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) – Military division1988 Queen's Birthday Honours[24]
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) – Military division1981 Queen's Birthday Honours[25]
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)(2000)[5][9]
Military Cross (MC)(1971)[3][4]
Knight of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of Saint John15 April 1994[26]
Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975[27] with MALAYSIA, THAI-MALAY and VIETNAM clasps
General Service Medal[27] with BORNEO clasp
Vietnam Medal[27]
Australian Service Medal 1945–1975[27] with SE ASIA and PNG clasps
Centenary Medal(awarded 2001)[28]
Defence Force Service Medal with 4 clasps35–39 years service[27]
National Medal[29] with First Clasp – 25–35 years service to ...
Australian Defence Medal[27]
Service Medal of the Order of St John[27]
Papua New Guinea Independence Medal(1977)[27]
Vietnam Campaign Medal[27]
Pingat Jasa Malaysia[27]
Honorary Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu (GCL)(2005)[30]

Unit Award:

Vietnam Gallantry Cross;8th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1970)[31]

Personal life

Jeffery was a Christian.[32] He died on 18 December 2020, at the age of 83.[33][34][35]

References

  1. ↑ "Jeffery, Philip Michael". Vietnam War Nominal Roll. Department of Veterans' Affairs. Archived from the original on 19 December 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  2. ↑ Curtis, Katina. "'An impressive legacy': Former governor-general Michael Jeffery dies". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 "No. 45431". The London Gazette. 23 July 1971. p. 7941. – Military Cross announcement.
  4. 1 2 It's an Honour Archived 20 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine – Military Cross – 23 July 1971
    Citation: Infantry – 8 RAR – Vietnam
  5. 1 2 3 "Extended biography – Major General Jeffery Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery, AC, AO (Mil), CVO, MC (Retd)". Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  6. 1 2 Singh, Shivani (2010). Who's Who in Australia 2010. Melbourne: Crown Content. ISBN 978-1-74095-172-2.
  7. ↑ "Message from the Governor: Vale Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery AC AO (Mil) CVO MC (Retd)". 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  8. 1 2 It's an Honour Archived 21 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine – Companion of the Order of Australia – 11 June 1996
    Citation: For service to the Crown as Governor of Western Australia and to the community, particularly through providing leadership in his commitment to the initiation and promotion of youth programmes to address contemporary social problems.
  9. 1 2 "No. 55839". The London Gazette. 5 May 2000. pp. 4979–4980. – CVO announcement.
  10. ↑ Price, Matt (28 June 2003). "Governor-General's prejudices on parade". The Australian.
  11. ↑ "Foundation News" (PDF). Army Museum of Western Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2010.
  12. 1 2 Hudson, Phillip (14 April 2008). "Great and good G-G flew below radar". Archived from the original on 18 October 2021.
  13. ↑ "The Rotator - April 2019 edition" (PDF). www.absc.online. Australian Business Summit Council.
  14. ↑ "Imperial Springs International Forum on Multilateralism and Sustainable Development". 18 November 2019.
  15. ↑ "GG's new role". Army News. 31 May 2007. Edition 1167. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012.
  16. ↑ Kittel, Nicholas (1 August 2007). "A century of Scouts a reason to celebrate". 666 ABC Canberra. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2007. In his address the Governor General also explained his role as Chief Scout. "Really the Chief Scout tries to go around to as many scout groups as he can and say 'well done' to all who are taking part and to encourage a strengthening of the movement."
  17. ↑ Saulwick, Jacob (2 August 2007). "Scout and proud: life still a jamboree after 100 years". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2007. "Scouts descend on tiny town for jamboree". The Age. Melbourne, Australia. 1 January 2007. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2007.
  18. ↑ "Resignation of the Governor-General" (Press release). Prime Minister of Australia. 13 April 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  19. ↑ Pollard, Ruth (13 April 2008). "Rudd appoints female G-G". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  20. 1 2 Address by Julia Gillard to the National Farmer's Federation Conference: http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20121121043700/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/121064/20121121-1537/www.pm.gov.au/press-office/speech-national-farmers-federation-national-congress.html
  21. ↑ "Advocate for Soil Health". Department of Agriculture. 25 March 2014. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  22. ↑ "Advocate for Soil Health". Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  23. ↑ "Soil CRC Patron steps down". Soil CRC. 4 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  24. ↑ It's an Honour Archived 20 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine – Officer of the Order of Australia – 13 June 1988
    Citation: For service to the Australian Army as Commander 1st Division.
  25. ↑ It's an Honour Archived 22 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine – Member of the Order of Australia – 8 June 1981
  26. ↑ "No. 53643". The London Gazette. 15 April 1994. p. 5667. – KStJ announcement.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Australian army uniform belonging to former Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery #2013-0295". Museum of Australian Democracy. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  28. ↑ It's an Honour Archived 22 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine – Centenary Medal – 1 January 2001
  29. ↑ It's an Honour Archived 21 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine – National Medal – 14 July 1977
  30. ↑ "Order of Logohu". Archived from the original on 3 February 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2006.
  31. ↑ "Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation to 8th Battalion". Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2008.
  32. ↑ "Governor-General Michael Jeffery yesterday told business leaders in Perth that the Christian saviour is 'the greatest leader the world has ever seen or will ever see'." Rafael Epstein (reporter; 26 February 2004). "Jesus Christ makes the headlines" transcript Archived 2 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine, The World Today Archives – Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  33. ↑ Curtis, Katina (18 December 2020). "'An impressive legacy': Former governor-general Michael Jeffery dies". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  34. ↑ "Former governor-general, gentleman and 'great Australian' Michael Jeffery dies". The Canberra Times. 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  35. ↑ Silk, Marty (18 December 2020). "Former GG Michael Jeffery dead at 83". Bendigo Advertiser. Archived from the original on 19 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
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