John Shaw (public servant)
Encyclopedia
John Alexander Lachlan Shaw CBE
, DSO
(26 August 190220 April 1983) was a New South Wales
public servant.
John Shaw was born on 26 August 1902 in Marrickville, New South Wales
, Australia
, the son of John and Alice Shaw. He attended Sydney Technical High School
and thereafter studied civil engineering at the University of Sydney
. After graduating with honours with a Bachelor of Engineering
(BE) in 1925, Shaw was recruited into newly established Main Roads Board of New South Wales, which was a part of the NSW Department of Main Roads
. In 1928 he was included amongst the first six divisional engineer appointments made by the Board, taking up postings at Glen Innes
, Newcastle
and Sydney. In 1926 he married Nellie Hicks in Chatswood
.
When the Second World War broke out, Shaw enlisted on 8 July 1940 in the 2/12 Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers
, with his commission as a Major. As part of the 8th Division in the Second Australian Imperial Force
, Shaw was sent over in February 1941 to Malaya to assist in the defence of Singapore
. He surrendered along with all allied forces on 31 January 1942 and was taken prisoner, being held in the notorious Changi Prison
. Liberated at the end of the war, he was discharged on 24 January 1946. On 6 March 1947 for "Organisation, courage and coolness in Malaya" he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
(DSO).Citation:"Organisation, courage and coolness in Malaya" He was presented with his award by the Governor-General of Australia
, Sir William McKell
, on 24 January 1949 at Admiralty House, Sydney
.
On returning to civilian life in Australia, Shaw resumed his work with the then Department of Main Roads, rising to Assisant Commissioner and overseeing various post-war infrastructure projects such as the Gladesville Bridge
, where he served as Chief Engineer. Shaw eventually rose to the office of Commissioner for Main Roads from 1962 to 1967. As Commissioner, on 12 June 1966 he was invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).Citation:"Commissioner of Main Roads - New South Wales"
After his retirement John Shaw served as the Deputy Chief Commissioner of the City of Sydney
from its dismissal by the Askin Government
on 14 November 1967 to 26 September 1969. Shaw also served as the National President of the Australian Road Federation from 1968 to 1979. He is the only Australian ever to have been honoured by the International Road Federation
as "Man of the Year".
The "John Shaw Award", which was initiated in the Queensland Region of the Australian Road Federation, acknowledges his outstanding contribution to roads. Roads Australia has an award in his honour. The "John Shaw Medal" is considered as one of the most significant achievements in the Australian Road Transport Sector. In 1991, his son established the "JAL and DL Shaw Award" with the gift of $10 000 in memory of his father, for graduates of the University of Sydney Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(26 August 190220 April 1983) was a 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...
public servant.
John Shaw was born on 26 August 1902 in Marrickville, New South Wales
Marrickville, New South Wales
Marrickville, a suburb of Sydney's Inner West is located 7 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the state of New South Wales, Australia and is the largest suburb in the Marrickville Council local government area...
, 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...
, the son of John and Alice Shaw. He attended Sydney Technical High School
Sydney Technical High School
Sydney Technical High School is an academically selective, state-funded high school for boys in Bexley, a southern suburb of Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1911 as part of Sydney Technical College, the school was one of the six original New South Wales selective schools...
and thereafter studied civil engineering 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...
. After graduating with honours with a Bachelor of Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering
The Bachelor of Engineering is an undergraduate academic degree awarded to a student after three to five years of studying engineering at universities in Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland , Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Korea,...
(BE) in 1925, Shaw was recruited into newly established Main Roads Board of New South Wales, which was a part of the NSW Department of Main Roads
Department of Main Roads (New South Wales)
The New South Wales Department of Main Roads was created in November 1932. The DMR undertook works across NSW; including maintenance of all major roads into Sydney and programs of road reconstruction, construction, upgrading and rerouting...
. In 1928 he was included amongst the first six divisional engineer appointments made by the Board, taking up postings at Glen Innes
Glen Innes, New South Wales
Glen Innes is a parish and town on the Northern Tablelands, in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the centre of the Glen Innes Severn Shire Council. The town is located at the intersection of the New England Highway and the Gwydir Highway...
, Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
and Sydney. In 1926 he married Nellie Hicks in Chatswood
Chatswood, New South Wales
Chatswood is a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Chatswood is located 10 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Willoughby. Chatswood West is a separate suburb...
.
When the Second World War broke out, Shaw enlisted on 8 July 1940 in the 2/12 Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers
Royal Australian Engineers
The Royal Australian Engineers is a corps of the Australian Army . The RAE is ranked fourth in seniority of the corps of the Australian Army, behind the Staff Cadets, Armoured and Artillery Corps...
, with his commission as a Major. As part of the 8th Division in the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
, Shaw was sent over in February 1941 to Malaya to assist in the defence of Singapore
Battle of Singapore
The Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of the Second World War when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold of Singapore. Singapore was the major British military base in Southeast Asia and nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East"...
. He surrendered along with all allied forces on 31 January 1942 and was taken prisoner, being held in the notorious Changi Prison
Changi Prison
Changi Prison is a prison located in Changi in the eastern part of Singapore.-First prison and POW camp:...
. Liberated at the end of the war, he was discharged on 24 January 1946. On 6 March 1947 for "Organisation, courage and coolness in Malaya" he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(DSO).Citation:"Organisation, courage and coolness in Malaya" He was presented with his award by the Governor-General of Australia
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...
, Sir William McKell
William McKell
Sir William John McKell GCMG , Australian politician, was Premier of New South Wales from 1941 to 1947, and was the 12th Governor-General of Australia. He was also the oldest Governor General of Australia, at 93 when he died....
, on 24 January 1949 at Admiralty House, Sydney
Admiralty House, Sydney
Admiralty House is the official Sydney residence of the Governor-General of Australia. It is located in the suburb of Kirribilli, on the northern foreshore of Sydney Harbour . This large, Italianate, sandstone mansion occupies the tip of Kirribilli Point...
.
On returning to civilian life in Australia, Shaw resumed his work with the then Department of Main Roads, rising to Assisant Commissioner and overseeing various post-war infrastructure projects such as the Gladesville Bridge
Gladesville Bridge
Gladesville Bridge is an arch bridge near Gladesville that spans the Parramatta River, west of central Sydney, Australia. It links the suburbs of Huntleys Point and Drummoyne. It is a few kilometres upstream of the more famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and is part of Victoria Road...
, where he served as Chief Engineer. Shaw eventually rose to the office of Commissioner for Main Roads from 1962 to 1967. As Commissioner, on 12 June 1966 he was invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).Citation:"Commissioner of Main Roads - New South Wales"
After his retirement John Shaw served as the Deputy Chief Commissioner of the City of Sydney
City of Sydney
The City of Sydney is the Local Government Area covering the Sydney central business district and surrounding inner city suburbs of the greater metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia...
from its dismissal by the Askin Government
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
on 14 November 1967 to 26 September 1969. Shaw also served as the National President of the Australian Road Federation from 1968 to 1979. He is the only Australian ever to have been honoured by the International Road Federation
International Road Federation
The International Road Federation is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization that promotes the development and maintenance of roads, with a focus on safety and sustainability. The organization has two key functions, providing expertise on road issues to governments and financial...
as "Man of the Year".
The "John Shaw Award", which was initiated in the Queensland Region of the Australian Road Federation, acknowledges his outstanding contribution to roads. Roads Australia has an award in his honour. The "John Shaw Medal" is considered as one of the most significant achievements in the Australian Road Transport Sector. In 1991, his son established the "JAL and DL Shaw Award" with the gift of $10 000 in memory of his father, for graduates of the University of Sydney Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.