Peter Hollingworth
Encyclopedia
Peter John Hollingworth AC, OBE (born 10 April 1935) is an Australian Anglican bishop. He served as the Archbishop of Brisbane
for 11 years before becoming the 23rd Governor-General of Australia
from 2001 until 2003.
Hollingworth's time as governor-general was marred by controversy over allegations that he had not done enough to investigate charges of sexual abuse within the Diocese of Brisbane when he was the archbishop. For much of his tenure he lacked bipartisan support, with key members of the opposition Labor Party
calling on him to resign. In May 2003 a report by the Diocese of Brisbane into the handling of the cases was tabled in the Queensland parliament
by the Labor Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie
. On 28 May 2003, despite maintaining the support of the Prime Minister, John Howard
, Hollingworth resigned.
, South Australia
, and moved to Melbourne
, Victoria
in 1940. After attending Lloyd Street and Murrumbeena primary schools he was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne
. After completing his secondary school education he began work for BHP
, an Australian mining company. Hollingworth apparently often spent his lunch hours in St Paul's Cathedral
in Melbourne where the idea of becoming a priest was first suggested to him.
in 1953 and, after basic training at the RAAF base at Point Cook, he began working in the chaplain's office and decided to test his vocation to ordained ministry. After matriculating in 1954 he enrolled at the University of Melbourne
, residing at Trinity College (University of Melbourne)
as a member of its school of theology. He graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Licentiate of Theology. On 6 February 1960 he married Kathleen Ann Turner, whom he had met while on National Service.
After ordination Hollingworth was appointed the priest in charge of St Mary's North Melbourne in a group ministry of the Anglican Inner City Mission within the Melbourne Diocesan Centre. In 1964 he joined the Brotherhood of St Laurence
, an independent Anglican welfare organisation, as chaplain and director of youth and children's work, then as director of social policy and research. In 1990 he was appointed as executive director. He served with the Brotherhood of St Laurence for 25 years and, in that time, was involved in many other associated community and welfare bodies.
He was consecrated as a bishop in 1985 and appointed as the Bishop in the Inner City. Before this he completed a Master of Arts degree in social work and wrote several books about his work with the poor which became educational texts.
On 22 April 2001 the Prime Minister
, John Howard
, announced that Hollingworth would be appointed Governor-General of Australia
upon the completion of Sir William Deane
's term. He was the first Christian cleric to hold the post, which generated some controversy. This was permissible due to the separation of church and state in Australia, which prohibits religious tests for public office
. The media, however, praised his personal qualities and achievements. On 29 June 2001, Hollingworth was sworn in as Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force. As the governor-general is the Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Australia
, Hollingworth was appointed a Companion of the Order (AC) on 29 June 2001. He served until 28 May 2003, when he resigned in controversial circumstances.
(OBE) and in 1988 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia
(AO) for his work in church and community. In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal
and later the same year was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) upon his appointment as Governor General taking effect. As well as these secular honours he was elected as a canon of St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne in 1980. In 1991 he was named Australian of the Year
and was included in the inaugural list of Australian Living Treasures
in 1997.
On 21 May 2001 Hollingworth was awarded the Lambeth degree
of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) by George Carey
, the then Archbishop of Canterbury
. He was awarded the doctorate in recognition of his research, publications, teaching and achievements in the fields of Christian social ethics, social welfare and poverty studies and episcopal leadership. In addition to this doctorate he already had six honorary doctorates from Australian universities.
Anglican Diocese of Brisbane
The Anglican Diocese of Brisbane is based in Brisbane, Australia. The diocesan bishop's seat is St John's Cathedral, Brisbane. The current Archbishop of Brisbane is the Most Reverend Phillip Aspinall, who is also the Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia.The diocese stretches from the inner...
for 11 years before becoming the 23rd 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...
from 2001 until 2003.
Hollingworth's time as governor-general was marred by controversy over allegations that he had not done enough to investigate charges of sexual abuse within the Diocese of Brisbane when he was the archbishop. For much of his tenure he lacked bipartisan support, with key members of the opposition 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...
calling on him to resign. In May 2003 a report by the Diocese of Brisbane into the handling of the cases was tabled in the Queensland parliament
Parliament of Queensland
The Parliament of Queensland is the legislature of Queensland, Australia. According to the state's constitution, the Parliament consists of the Queen and the Legislative Assembly. It is the only unicameral state parliament in the country, the upper chamber, the Legislative Council, having been...
by the Labor Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie
Peter Beattie
Peter Douglas Beattie , Australian politician, was the 36th Premier of the Australian state of Queensland for nine years and leader of the Australian Labor Party in that state for eleven and a half years...
. On 28 May 2003, despite maintaining the support of the Prime Minister, 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....
, Hollingworth resigned.
Early life
Hollingworth was born in AdelaideAdelaide
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...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, and moved to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1940. After attending Lloyd Street and Murrumbeena primary schools he was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. After completing his secondary school education he began work for BHP
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
, an Australian mining company. Hollingworth apparently often spent his lunch hours in St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, is the metropolitical and cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Victoria in Australia. It is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne and Metropolitan of the Province of Victoria...
in Melbourne where the idea of becoming a priest was first suggested to him.
Education and career
Hollingworth was conscripted for National ServiceNational service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in 1953 and, after basic training at the RAAF base at Point Cook, he began working in the chaplain's office and decided to test his vocation to ordained ministry. After matriculating in 1954 he enrolled 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...
, residing at Trinity College (University of Melbourne)
Trinity College (University of Melbourne)
Trinity College is the oldest college of the University of Melbourne. Founded in 1872 on a site granted to the Church of England, Trinity is unique among Australian university colleges in its diverse education programs...
as a member of its school of theology. He graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Licentiate of Theology. On 6 February 1960 he married Kathleen Ann Turner, whom he had met while on National Service.
After ordination Hollingworth was appointed the priest in charge of St Mary's North Melbourne in a group ministry of the Anglican Inner City Mission within the Melbourne Diocesan Centre. In 1964 he joined the Brotherhood of St Laurence
Brotherhood of St Laurence
The Brotherhood of St Laurence is an Australian not-for-profit organisation. Based in Melbourne, the Brotherhood has a national profile. The organisation's vision is for an Australia free of poverty. In working towards this vision it undertakes research and develops and delivers services and...
, an independent Anglican welfare organisation, as chaplain and director of youth and children's work, then as director of social policy and research. In 1990 he was appointed as executive director. He served with the Brotherhood of St Laurence for 25 years and, in that time, was involved in many other associated community and welfare bodies.
He was consecrated as a bishop in 1985 and appointed as the Bishop in the Inner City. Before this he completed a Master of Arts degree in social work and wrote several books about his work with the poor which became educational texts.
On 22 April 2001 the 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....
, announced that Hollingworth would be appointed 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...
upon the completion of Sir William Deane
William Deane
Sir William Patrick Deane, AC, KBE, QC , Australian judge and the 22nd Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:William Deane was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He was educated at Catholic schools including St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill and at the University of Sydney, where he graduated in...
's term. He was the first Christian cleric to hold the post, which generated some controversy. This was permissible due to the separation of church and state in Australia, which prohibits religious tests for public office
Section 116 of the Australian Constitution
Section 116 of the Constitution of Australia precludes the Commonwealth of Australia from making laws for establishing any religion, imposing any religious observance, or prohibiting the free exercise of any religion...
. The media, however, praised his personal qualities and achievements. On 29 June 2001, Hollingworth was sworn in as Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force. As the governor-general is the Chancellor and Principal 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"...
, Hollingworth was appointed a Companion of the Order (AC) on 29 June 2001. He served until 28 May 2003, when he resigned in controversial circumstances.
Honours
In 1976 Hollingworth was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British EmpireOrder 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...
(OBE) and in 1988 he was appointed 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"...
(AO) for his work in church and community. In 2001 he was awarded the 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...
and later the same year was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) upon his appointment as Governor General taking effect. As well as these secular honours he was elected as a canon of St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne in 1980. In 1991 he was named Australian of the Year
Australian of the Year
Since 1960 the Australian of the Year Award has been part of the celebrations surrounding Australia Day , during which time the award has grown steadily in significance to become Australia’s pre-eminent award. The Australian of the Year announcement has become a very prominent part of the annual...
and was included in the inaugural list of Australian Living Treasures
Australian Living Treasures
Australian Living Treasures are people who have been nominated by the National Trust of Australia. The first list of 100 Living Treasures was published in 1997....
in 1997.
On 21 May 2001 Hollingworth was awarded the Lambeth degree
Lambeth degree
A Lambeth degree is an academic degree conferred by the Archbishop of Canterbury under the authority of the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533 as successor of the papal legate in England...
of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) by George Carey
George Carey
George Leonard Carey, Baron Carey of Clifton PC, FKC is a former Archbishop of Canterbury, holding the office from 1991 to 2002. He was the first modern holder of the office not to have attended Oxford or Cambridge University...
, the then Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
. He was awarded the doctorate in recognition of his research, publications, teaching and achievements in the fields of Christian social ethics, social welfare and poverty studies and episcopal leadership. In addition to this doctorate he already had six honorary doctorates from Australian universities.