Gordon Reid (Governor)
Encyclopedia
Gordon Stanley Reid AC
(22 September 1923 – 26 October 1989) was an Australian academic who was Governor
of Western Australia
from 1984 to 1989.
Educated at Hurstville Boys High School in New South Wales
from 1934 to 1937, then enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
in 1942, reaching the rank of Flying Officer
by the time of his discharge in 1946. He met and married his wife, Ruth, in Brighton, England while stationed at RAF Gamston. In his civilian career Reid worked as a reading clerk, accountant and clerk of papers. He was clerk of records for the Australian House of Representatives
from 1952 to 1955, and was Serjeant-at-Arms
at Parliament House, Canberra
while studying for his Commerce degree. He then travelled to England where he obtained his Master's Degree and his Doctor of Philosophy degree at the London School of Economics
. He won a Nuffield Scholarship
.
Prior to serving as Governor in 1984, Professor Reid lectured at Adelaide University and served at the University of Western Australia
as Vice-Chancellor (1978–82) and Professor of Politics (1966–70, 1974–78, 1983–84). He was the author and joint author of various books and publications on Australian politics including:
As part of the Australian parliament
's bicentenary publications project, Professor Reid, assisted by Dr Martin Forrest, was commissioned to write a history of the Parliament.
In 1986 he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia
(AC).
On 20 August 1989, the Premier
, Peter Dowding
, announced that Reid had been undergoing extensive surgery for cancer
, and would be stepping down as Governor. He died shortly after, on 26 October.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(22 September 1923 – 26 October 1989) was an Australian academic who was Governor
Governor of Western Australia
The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...
of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
from 1984 to 1989.
Educated at Hurstville Boys High School in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
from 1934 to 1937, then enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
in 1942, reaching the rank of Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
by the time of his discharge in 1946. He met and married his wife, Ruth, in Brighton, England while stationed at RAF Gamston. In his civilian career Reid worked as a reading clerk, accountant and clerk of papers. He was clerk of records for the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
from 1952 to 1955, and was Serjeant-at-Arms
Serjeant-at-Arms
A Sergeant-at-Arms is an officer appointed by a deliberative body, usually a legislature, to keep order during its meetings. The word sergeant is derived from the Latin serviens, which means "servant"....
at Parliament House, Canberra
Parliament House, Canberra
Parliament House is the meeting facility of the Parliament of Australia located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. The building was designed by Mitchell/Giurgola Architects and opened on 1988 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia...
while studying for his Commerce degree. He then travelled to England where he obtained his Master's Degree and his Doctor of Philosophy degree at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He won a Nuffield Scholarship
Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college and primarily a research establishment, specialising in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics and sociology. It is a research centre in the social sciences...
.
Prior to serving as Governor in 1984, Professor Reid lectured at Adelaide University and served at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
as Vice-Chancellor (1978–82) and Professor of Politics (1966–70, 1974–78, 1983–84). He was the author and joint author of various books and publications on Australian politics including:
- The politics of financial control (1966)
- Out of the wilderness: the return of Labor (1974)
- The Western Australian elections (1974)
- The premiers of Western Australia, 1890–1982 (1982)
As part of the Australian parliament
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
's bicentenary publications project, Professor Reid, assisted by Dr Martin Forrest, was commissioned to write a history of the Parliament.
In 1986 he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AC).
On 20 August 1989, the Premier
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
, Peter Dowding
Peter Dowding
Peter McCallum Dowding SC was the 24th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 25 February 1988 until his resignation on 12 February 1990 after an internal party dispute....
, announced that Reid had been undergoing extensive surgery for cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, and would be stepping down as Governor. He died shortly after, on 26 October.
External links
- Papers of Professor Gordon Stanley Reid ( –1989), National Library of Australia
Further reading
- Spillman, Ken (Ed.): A Gentle Man. Memories of Professor Gordon Reid 1923–1989. (1990) ISBN 0-9589701-1-4