Ken Myer
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Baillieu Myer AC DSC
(1 March 192130 July 1992) was an American
-born Australia
n patron of the arts, humanities and sciences; diplomat; administrator; businessman; and philanthropist. He made significant philanthropic and personal contributions to the development of major national institutions, most notably the Howard Florey Laboratories of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, the School of Oriental Studies at the University of Melbourne
, the Victorian Arts Centre
and the National Library of Australia
. He was also the founding Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
.
, United States
in 1921, the eldest son of Sidney Myer
, who migrated to Australia from Russia in 1899, then moved to the United States to make his fortune. Sidney Myer had divorced his first wife in Reno, Nevada
, but this divorce was not recognised under Australian law. His second wife, (later Dame) Merlyn Myer
, travelled to San Francisco for the birth of each of her four children to ensure they would be considered legitimate. The Myers returned to Australia in 1929 and Ken was educated at Geelong Grammar School
, where his strengths were in music, the arts, the classics and languages. His father died at an early age in 1934, when Ken was 13 years of age. He was accepted to Oxford University
but could not attend due to the outbreak of World War II
. He attended Princeton University
for a year, then returned to Australia and served in the Royal Australian Navy
(RAN).
He temporarily transferred from the RAN to the Royal Navy
in mid-1943, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant, and he received a Distinguished Service Medal
for torpedoing a German submarine in the Adriatic Sea. On 15 August 1944, he was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross
for his role in an attack by HMAS Arunta on a Japanese submarine that had torpedoed a merchant ship, Malaita, outside Port Moresby
. Later he served in the occupation forces in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
In 1948 he became a Director of the Myer Emporium, a role he continued until 1985. He was Deputy Chairman and Managing Director 1960-1966, Chairman 1966-1976, and a non-executive Director 1976-1985. He was also a Director of Coles Myer Ltd 1985-89.
Together with his siblings, he brought the Sidney Myer Music Bowl
into existence in 1959. Ken Myer donated it to the people of Victoria and Australia, and it was accepted on their behalf by the then Prime Minister
, Robert Menzies
.
He championed the introduction of freeways and shopping malls to Australia, and was instrumental in setting up the Chadstone Shopping Centre
in Melbourne.
In 1972, he surprised and to a degree alienated his family by publicly supporting the Australian Labor Party
led by Gough Whitlam
during the federal election campaign
. Labor won government in December 1972 and Whitlam became Prime Minister. In early 1974, Whitlam offered Ken Myer the opportunity of succeeding Sir Paul Hasluck
as Governor-General
. He declined, and the post went to Sir John Kerr.
His other activities were extensive and varied. He was:
He successfully fostered new research in organizations such as the Division of Plant Industry of the CSIRO
and helped build the Oriental Collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales
. At his death in 1992, he was the greatest collector of Japanese art in Australia.
On Australia Day
1976 he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia
(AC), Australia’s highest civilian honour.
In 1989 the Australian Libraries and Information Association gave him its Redmond Barry
Award, which goes to a lay person not employed in a library who has rendered outstanding service to the promotion of a library and to the promotion of a library and the practice of librarianship.
In April 1992 he was elected to the Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Science
, under the provision for special election of people who are not scientists but have rendered conspicuous service to the cause of science.
, and later Kenneth Myer Lecturers have included H. C. Coombs
, Dr Davis McCaughey
, Emeritus Professor John Mulvaney
, Sir Gustav Nossal
, Professor Peter C. Doherty, Fred Chaney
, Professor Fiona Stanley
, Harry Seidler
, Tim Costello
, Geoffrey Robertson
, Michelle Grattan
, Professor Tim Flannery
and Professor Ian Frazer
.
He and Yasuko were killed in a light aircraft crash in Alaska
on 30 July 1992.
Martyn Myer is president of the Myer Foundation
. Andrew Myer Is a property developer. Andrew was a Trustee of The Sidney Myer Fund and for five years held the position of Director and Co-Vice President of The Myer Foundation. Joanna Baevsky is a psychologist, and she and Michael Myer were the creators of the 1988 film Radiance
.
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
(1 March 192130 July 1992) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n patron of the arts, humanities and sciences; diplomat; administrator; businessman; and philanthropist. He made significant philanthropic and personal contributions to the development of major national institutions, most notably the Howard Florey Laboratories of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, the School of Oriental Studies at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, the Victorian Arts Centre
The Arts Centre (Melbourne)
The Victorian Arts Centre is a performing arts centre consisting of a complex of theatres and concert halls in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, located in the inner Melbourne suburb of Southbank in Victoria, Australia....
and the National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
. He was also the founding Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
.
Biography
Ken Myer was born in San Francisco, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1921, the eldest son of Sidney Myer
Sidney Myer
Sidney Baevski Myer was a Russian Australian businessman and philanthropist, best known for creating Myer, Australia's largest chain of department stores.-Early life:...
, who migrated to Australia from Russia in 1899, then moved to the United States to make his fortune. Sidney Myer had divorced his first wife in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, but this divorce was not recognised under Australian law. His second wife, (later Dame) Merlyn Myer
Merlyn Myer
Dame Margery Merlyn Baillieu Myer DBE , best known as Merlyn Myer, was an Australian philanthropist, who was knighted in recognition of her charitable work....
, travelled to San Francisco for the birth of each of her four children to ensure they would be considered legitimate. The Myers returned to Australia in 1929 and Ken was educated at Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, co-educational, boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located at Corio, on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay....
, where his strengths were in music, the arts, the classics and languages. His father died at an early age in 1934, when Ken was 13 years of age. He was accepted to Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
but could not attend due to the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He attended Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
for a year, then returned to Australia and served in the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
(RAN).
He temporarily transferred from the RAN to the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in mid-1943, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant, and he received a Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Navy and members of the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, up to and including the rank of Chief Petty Officer, for bravery and resourcefulness on active service...
for torpedoing a German submarine in the Adriatic Sea. On 15 August 1944, he was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
for his role in an attack by HMAS Arunta on a Japanese submarine that had torpedoed a merchant ship, Malaita, outside Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
. Later he served in the occupation forces in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
In 1948 he became a Director of the Myer Emporium, a role he continued until 1985. He was Deputy Chairman and Managing Director 1960-1966, Chairman 1966-1976, and a non-executive Director 1976-1985. He was also a Director of Coles Myer Ltd 1985-89.
Together with his siblings, he brought the Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Sidney Myer Music Bowl
The Sidney Myer Music Bowl is an outdoor performance venue in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is located in the lawns and gardens of Kings Domain, close to the Arts Centre and the Southbank entertainment precinct...
into existence in 1959. Ken Myer donated it to the people of Victoria and Australia, and it was accepted on their behalf by the then Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
, Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
.
He championed the introduction of freeways and shopping malls to Australia, and was instrumental in setting up the Chadstone Shopping Centre
Chadstone Shopping Centre
Chadstone Shopping Centre is a super regional shopping centre located in the inner south-eastern suburb of Malvern East in the city of Melbourne, Australia...
in Melbourne.
In 1972, he surprised and to a degree alienated his family by publicly supporting the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
led by Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
during the federal election campaign
Australian federal election, 1972
Federal elections were held in Australia on 2 December 1972. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. The Liberal Party of Australia had been in power since 1949, under Prime Minister of Australia William McMahon since March 1971 with coalition partner the Country Party...
. Labor won government in December 1972 and Whitlam became Prime Minister. In early 1974, Whitlam offered Ken Myer the opportunity of succeeding Sir Paul Hasluck
Paul Hasluck
Sir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck KG GCMG GCVO KStJ was an Australian historian, poet, public servant and politician, and the 17th Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:...
as Governor-General
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
. He declined, and the post went to Sir John Kerr.
His other activities were extensive and varied. He was:
- Honorary Secretary of the National Gallery Society of Victoria 1948-53
- President of the Town and Country Planning Association of Victoria 1953-1958
- a member of the Victorian Arts Centre Building Committee 1958-80, and Chairman 1965-80
- a member of the Interim Council of the National Library of AustraliaNational Library of AustraliaThe National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
1960 (at the personal invitation of the then Australian Prime Minister, Robert Menzies) - a founding member of the statutory Council 1961
- Chairman of the Council 1974-82
- a member of the Australian Universities Commission 1962-65
- a member of the Committee of Economic Inquiry (the first Vernon Committee) 1963-65
- Chairman of the Victorian Arts CentreThe Arts Centre (Melbourne)The Victorian Arts Centre is a performing arts centre consisting of a complex of theatres and concert halls in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, located in the inner Melbourne suburb of Southbank in Victoria, Australia....
1965-89 - a member of the founding Council of the Australian Institute of Urban Studies in 1967
- a member of the interim Council of the Australian National GalleryNational Gallery of AustraliaThe National Gallery of Australia is the national art gallery of Australia, holding more than 120,000 works of art. It was established in 1967 by the Australian government as a national public art gallery.- Establishment :...
1968-71 - a director of the National Retail Merchants Association of the USA 1969-79
- a member of the Australian National Capital Planning Committee 1971-82
- President of the Board of the Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine 1971-92
- a member of Australia's first trade mission to ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1973 - a member of the Committee, chaired by Sir John CrawfordJohn Crawford (economist)Sir John Grenfell Crawford AC CBE was an economist and a key architect of Australia's Post-War growth.Born in Sydney, among the positions he held were Adviser to the World Bank, Washington D.C., Director, Australian Japanese Economic Research Project, and Chairman, Advisory Board, Australian...
, whose unanimous report led to the Australia-Japan Foundation - Chairman of the Victorian Arts Centre Trust from 1980 to 1989
- founding Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting CorporationAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
1983-86. This last was one of his few unsuccessful appointments, and it ended in his sudden resignation mid-term; it was widely seen as a reward by Bob HawkeBob HawkeRobert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
for Myer's support for Gough Whitlam's election in 1972.
He successfully fostered new research in organizations such as the Division of Plant Industry of the CSIRO
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
and helped build the Oriental Collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
. At his death in 1992, he was the greatest collector of Japanese art in Australia.
Honours and awards
He won the International Retailers Award in 1970.On Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
1976 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), Australia’s highest civilian honour.
In 1989 the Australian Libraries and Information Association gave him its Redmond Barry
Redmond Barry
Sir Redmond Barry KCMG was an Irish colonial judge in Victoria, Australia.-Early life:Barry was the son of Major-General Henry Green Barry, of Ballyclough, County Cork and his wife Phoebe Drought, daughter of John Armstrong Drought and Letita Head...
Award, which goes to a lay person not employed in a library who has rendered outstanding service to the promotion of a library and to the promotion of a library and the practice of librarianship.
In April 1992 he was elected to the Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Science
Australian Academy of Science
The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal Charter; as such it is...
, under the provision for special election of people who are not scientists but have rendered conspicuous service to the cause of science.
Kenneth Myer Lecture
The annual Kenneth Myer Lecture was founded by the Friends of the National Library of Australia in 1990. The inaugural lecturer was Gough WhitlamGough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
, and later Kenneth Myer Lecturers have included H. C. Coombs
H. C. Coombs
Herbert Cole H.C. "Nugget" Coombs was an Australian economist and public servant.-Early years:Coombs was born in Kalamunda, Western Australia, Australia, one of six children of a country railway station-master and a well-read mother.Coombs's political and economic views were formed by the Great...
, Dr Davis McCaughey
Davis McCaughey
John Davis McCaughey, AC was a bible scholar, church and university administrator, and was Governor of Victoria from 1986–1992.-Working life:...
, Emeritus Professor John Mulvaney
John Mulvaney
John Mulvaney AO CMG is an Australian archaeologist and known as the "father of Australian Archaeology".Derek John Mulvaney was born in Yarram, Victoria...
, Sir Gustav Nossal
Gustav Nossal
Sir Gustav Victor Joseph Nossal, AC, CBE, FRS, FAA is an Australian research biologist.-Life and career:Gustav Nossal's family was from Vienna, Austria. He was born four weeks prematurely in Bad Ischl while his mother was on holiday...
, Professor Peter C. Doherty, Fred Chaney
Fred Chaney
Frederick Michael Chaney, AO is a former Western Australian politician who, until April 2007, held the position of deputy chairman of the Australian Native Title Tribunal and is Chair of Desert Knowledge Australia and on the Board of Directors of Reconciliation Australia.Chaney was born in Perth,...
, Professor Fiona Stanley
Fiona Stanley
Fiona Stanley, AC is an Australian epidemiologist noted for her public health work, and her research into child and maternal health, and birth disorders such as cerebral palsy.-Life:...
, Harry Seidler
Harry Seidler
Harry Seidler, AC OBE was an Austrian-born Australian architect who is considered to be one of the leading exponents of Modernism's methodology in Australia and the first architect to fully express the principles of the Bauhaus in Australia.Harry Seidler designed more than 180 buildings and he...
, Tim Costello
Tim Costello
Timothy Ewen Costello AO is a prominent Baptist minister and current CEO of World Vision Australia.He is an "Australian Living Treasure". He is the brother of former treasurer of Australia and Federal Member for Higgins Peter Costello....
, Geoffrey Robertson
Geoffrey Robertson
Geoffrey Ronald Robertson QC is an Australian-born human rights lawyer, academic, author and broadcaster. He holds dual Australian and British citizenship....
, Michelle Grattan
Michelle Grattan
Michelle Grattan AO , Australian journalist, was the first woman to become editor of an Australian metropolitan daily newspaper. Specialising in political journalism, Grattan has written and edited for many significant Australian newspapers....
, Professor Tim Flannery
Tim Flannery
Timothy Fridtjof Flannery is an Australian mammalogist, palaeontologist, environmentalist and global warming activist....
and Professor Ian Frazer
Ian Frazer
Professor Ian Frazer is the Director of the Diamantina Institute. He is a creator of the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer; the second cancer preventing vaccine, and the first vaccine designed to prevent a cancer. .- Education:He was born in Glasgow, Scotland...
.
Personal life
In 1947 Ken married Prudence Boyd (1925-2005) and they had five children: Joanna, Michael, Philip, Martyn and Andrew. Ken and Prudence were divorced in 1977. Ken married Yasuko Hiraoka in 1979 (16 March 1945 - 30 July 1992).He and Yasuko were killed in a light aircraft crash in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
on 30 July 1992.
Martyn Myer is president of the Myer Foundation
Myer Foundation
The Myer Foundation is a major Australian philanthropic organisation.The Sidney Myer Charitable Trust was established by the will of Sidney Myer who died in 1934 leaving one tenth of his estate for the benefit of the community. Myer's will was proved at £922,000...
. Andrew Myer Is a property developer. Andrew was a Trustee of The Sidney Myer Fund and for five years held the position of Director and Co-Vice President of The Myer Foundation. Joanna Baevsky is a psychologist, and she and Michael Myer were the creators of the 1988 film Radiance
Radiance (film)
Radiance is a 1998 Australian independent film. It is the first feature film by Aboriginal director Rachel Perkins about three indigenous sisters who reunite for their mother's funeral...
.