John Carrick (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Leslie Carrick, AC
, KCMG
(b. 4 September 1918) is a former Australia
n politician.
(B.Ec. 1941). Before he was able to commence his career to any great degree he fought with the Sparrow Force
of the Australian Army
during World War II
. He was landed on Timor
but was captured by the Japanese. He spent the rest of the war years in captivity in Changi
prison camp and at various times he worked on the notorious Burma Railway. At the end of the war he was seconded to the Supreme Allied Commander, Lord Mountbatten
.
. He worked for the party continuously from the end of World War II until 1971, and for some 23 years was the General Secretary. During this period he mentored aspiring politicians including future Prime Minister
John Howard
.
Carrick was a leading member of the Liberal Party
from the 1950s onwards. He was elected at the 1970 Senate election
to represent New South Wales
in the Senate
, his term commencing on 1 July 1971. During the Fraser
Liberal government, he was Minister for Education from 1975 to 1979, Minister for National Development and Energy
from 1979 to 1983, and Vice-President of the Executive Council
from 1978 to 1982.
From 1988 to 1989 he was Chairman of the Committee of Review of NSW Schools. This committee conducted a comprehensive inquiry from birth to HSC including the drafting of 1990 Education Reform Act, incorporating principles, goals and responsibilities. He subsequently reviewed the implementation of the report up to 1995. From 1992 to 1995 he was a member of the New South Wales Ministerial Advisory Council for Teacher Education. As part of this process he travelled around New South Wales and met with students and teachers across both the public and private education systems in order to learn ways in which teacher education could be improved. From 1992 to 2001 he was a member of the Advisory Board of the Macquarie University
Institute of Early Childhood. Since 1998, he has been the chairman of the Advisory Committee, Gifted Education Research, Resource and Information Centre at the University of New South Wales
. Since 2001 he has been chairman, Macquarie University
Institute of Early Childhood Foundation.
One of his daughters married the politician Bob Woods
.
(KCMG) for services to the Parliament of Australia. In 1988, he was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters at the University of Sydney
. In 1994 he was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Australian College of Educators
(Hon FACE). In 2000 awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Macquarie University. He received a 2000 Centenary Medal
for outstanding leadership and service to the Australian community, especially through education. The Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education was named after him. In 2008 he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia
(AC), "for distinguished service in the area of educational reform in Australia, particularly through the advancement of early childhood education and to the development and support of new initiatives in the tertiary sector, and to the broader community".
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"...
, KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(b. 4 September 1918) is a former 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 politician.
Early life
Carrick studied economics at the University of SydneyUniversity of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
(B.Ec. 1941). Before he was able to commence his career to any great degree he fought with the Sparrow Force
Sparrow Force
Sparrow Force was a detachment based on the 2/40th Australian Infantry Battalion and other British and Australian 8th Division units, during World War II. The force was formed to defend the island of Timor, from invasion by the Empire of Japan...
of the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
during 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 was landed on Timor
Timor
Timor is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, north of the Timor Sea. It is divided between the independent state of East Timor, and West Timor, belonging to the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. The island's surface is 30,777 square kilometres...
but was captured by the Japanese. He spent the rest of the war years in captivity in Changi
Changi Prison
Changi Prison is a prison located in Changi in the eastern part of Singapore.-First prison and POW camp:...
prison camp and at various times he worked on the notorious Burma Railway. At the end of the war he was seconded to the Supreme Allied Commander, Lord Mountbatten
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
.
Political career
On returning to Australia, Carrick commenced his career as a research officer for the newly established New South Wales Division of the Liberal PartyLiberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
. He worked for the party continuously from the end of World War II until 1971, and for some 23 years was the General Secretary. During this period he mentored aspiring politicians including future 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...
John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
.
Carrick was a leading member of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
from the 1950s onwards. He was elected at the 1970 Senate election
Australian Senate election, 1970
Half-senate elections were held in Australia on 21 November 1970.Independents: Reg Turnbull , Michael Townley , Syd Negus -See also:*Candidates of the Australian Senate election, 1970...
to represent 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...
in the Senate
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,...
, his term commencing on 1 July 1971. During the Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
Liberal government, he was Minister for Education from 1975 to 1979, Minister for National Development and Energy
Minister for Resources and Energy (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Resources and Energy is Martin Ferguson, appointed on 3 December 2007. The Minister administers his portfolios through the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.-List of Ministers for Resources:...
from 1979 to 1983, and Vice-President of the Executive Council
Vice-President of the Executive Council
The Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council is a position in Australian federal governments, whose holder acts as presiding officer of the Federal Executive Council in the absence of the Governor-General....
from 1978 to 1982.
From 1988 to 1989 he was Chairman of the Committee of Review of NSW Schools. This committee conducted a comprehensive inquiry from birth to HSC including the drafting of 1990 Education Reform Act, incorporating principles, goals and responsibilities. He subsequently reviewed the implementation of the report up to 1995. From 1992 to 1995 he was a member of the New South Wales Ministerial Advisory Council for Teacher Education. As part of this process he travelled around New South Wales and met with students and teachers across both the public and private education systems in order to learn ways in which teacher education could be improved. From 1992 to 2001 he was a member of the Advisory Board of the Macquarie University
Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
Institute of Early Childhood. Since 1998, he has been the chairman of the Advisory Committee, Gifted Education Research, Resource and Information Centre at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. Since 2001 he has been chairman, Macquarie University
Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
Institute of Early Childhood Foundation.
One of his daughters married the politician Bob Woods
Bob Woods
Robert Leslie "Bob" Woods is an Australian former politician. He was a Liberal Senator for the state of New South Wales in Australia between 1993 and 1997. Woods was previously a Member of the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Lowe between 1987 and 1993...
.
Awards and Commendations
In 1982, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St GeorgeOrder of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(KCMG) for services to the Parliament of Australia. In 1988, he was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. In 1994 he was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Australian College of Educators
Australian College of Educators
The Australian College of Educators is the principal organisation representing the field of teaching and education in Australia, and acts as the independent interest body for Australian teachers...
(Hon FACE). In 2000 awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Macquarie University. He received a 2000 Centenary Medal
Centenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
for outstanding leadership and service to the Australian community, especially through education. The Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education was named after him. In 2008 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), "for distinguished service in the area of educational reform in Australia, particularly through the advancement of early childhood education and to the development and support of new initiatives in the tertiary sector, and to the broader community".