Reg Bishop
Encyclopedia
Reginald Bishop AO
(4 February 1913 – 3 July 1999) was an Australian politician. He was born in Adelaide
and left school at fifteen and became a clerk in the South Australian Railways
at the Islington Railway Workshops. He was an official of the Australian Railways Union
from 1937 until 1956 and Secretary of the South Australian Trades and Labour Council
from 1956 until 1962. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
during World War II and served from February 1943 until January 1946 in Darwin
and Borneo
.
Bishop was an Australian Labor Party
Senator
for South Australia from the 1961 elections
until his retirement in June 1981. After the election of the Whitlam
government at the 1972 elections
, he was Minister for Repatriation
and Minister assisting the Minister for Defence. From June 1974, he was the last Postmaster-General and oversaw the creation of Telecom
and Australia Post
as statutory authorities, replacing the former Postmaster-General's Department
. He also implemented the introduction of FM radio
and the abolition of television and radio licence fees.
Bishop was made an Officer of the Order of Australia
in January 1984. He was survived by a daughter and son, but his wife of more than sixty years, Connie predeceased him in 1997.
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"...
(4 February 1913 – 3 July 1999) was an Australian politician. He was born in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
and left school at fifteen and became a clerk in the South Australian Railways
South Australian Railways
South Australian Railways built and operated railways in South Australia from 1854 to the incorporation of its non-urban railways into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1975, together with the former Commonwealth Railways and the former Tasmanian Government Railways...
at the Islington Railway Workshops. He was an official of the Australian Railways Union
Australian Rail Tram and Bus Industry Union
The Australian Rail Tram & Bus Industry Union , formerly known as the Public Transport Union or PTU, was formed on 1 March 1993, through the amalgamation of the Australian Railways Union, the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen, the Australian Tramway & Motor Omnibus Employees'...
from 1937 until 1956 and Secretary of the South Australian Trades and Labour Council
United Trades and Labour Council of South Australia
The United Trades and Labour Council of South Australia, also known as SA Unions, is a representative body of trade union organisations, known as a Labour council, in the State of South Australia...
from 1956 until 1962. He 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...
during World War II and served from February 1943 until January 1946 in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
and Borneo
Borneo campaign (1945)
The Borneo Campaign of 1945 was the last major Allied campaign in the South West Pacific Area, during World War II. In a series of amphibious assaults between 1 May and 21 July, the Australian I Corps, under General Leslie Morshead, attacked Japanese forces occupying the island. Allied naval and...
.
Bishop was an 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...
Senator
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
for South Australia from the 1961 elections
Australian federal election, 1961
Federal elections were held in Australia on 9 December 1961. All 122 seats in the House of Representatives, and 31 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election...
until his retirement in June 1981. After the election of the 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...
government at the 1972 elections
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...
, he was Minister for Repatriation
Minister for Veterans' Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Veterans' Affairs oversees income support, compensation, care and commemoration programs for more than 400,000 veterans and their widows, widowers and dependants....
and Minister assisting the Minister for Defence. From June 1974, he was the last Postmaster-General and oversaw the creation of Telecom
Telstra
Telstra Corporation Limited is an Australian telecommunications and media company, building and operating telecommunications networks and marketing voice, mobile, internet access and pay television products and services....
and Australia Post
Australia Post
Australia Post is the trading name of the Australian Government-owned Australian Postal Corporation .-History:...
as statutory authorities, replacing the former Postmaster-General's Department
Postmaster-General's Department
The Postmaster-General's Department was created at Federation in 1901 to control all postal services within Australia. Its minister was the Postmaster-General. In mid-1975 it was disaggregated into the Australian Telecommunications Commission and the Australian Postal Commission...
. He also implemented the introduction of FM radio
FM broadcasting in Australia
FM radio broadcasting started in Australia in 1947 but did not catch on and was shut down in 1961 to expand the television band and not reopened until 1975 when Australia's FM allocation was aligned with most of the rest of the world...
and the abolition of television and radio licence fees.
Bishop was made an Officer 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"...
in January 1984. He was survived by a daughter and son, but his wife of more than sixty years, Connie predeceased him in 1997.