Charles Hector McFadyen

Charles McFadyen CBE
Secretary of the Department of Shipping and Fuel
In office 21 December 1948 – 16 March 1950
Secretary of the Department of Fuel, Shipping and Transport
In office 16 March 1950 – 11 May 1951
Secretary of the Department of Shipping and Transport
In office 11 May 1951 – 29 October 1957
Personal details
Born	Charles Hector McFadyen 29 October 1892
Died	26 August 1965 (aged 72)
Resting place	Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Victoria
Nationality	Australian
Occupation	Public servant

Charles Hector McFadyen CBE (29 October 1892 – 26 August 1965) was a senior Australian public servant, best known for his time heading the Department of Shipping and Transport.

In 1920, he played four games with the Essendon Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Life and career

McFadyen was born on 29 October 1892.^[1]

McFadyen enlisted in the First Australian Imperial Force in May 1915.^[2]

In 1920, McFadyen played Australian rules football with Essendon in the VFL.^[3] In his short football career he played four games during which he scored two goals.^[4][5]

In 1927, McFadyen moved to Canberra. In the city he joined the Canberra branch of the Australian Labor Party, and served as president of the branch for four years. In September 1935 he contested the Hospital Board election.^[6] He was successful and ran for re-election in 1938.^[7] McFadyen was also president of the Canberra Public Service Welfare Committee.^[8] McFadyen transferred back to Melbourne in 1939 and resigned from his position as Chairman of the Hospital Board.^[9]

In early 1948, McFadyen acted as director of the division of industrial development in the Department of Post-War Reconstruction.^[10] McFadyen was appointed Secretary of the Department of Shipping and Fuel in December 1948, promoted to the position from his role as Deputy Director of the Division of Economic Policy in the post-war reconstruction department.^[11] He was responsible for the mining, shipping and ports in the role.^[12]

Under his leadership, the Department was transitioned to become the Department of Fuel, Shipping and Transport in March 1950,^[13] and the Department of Shipping and Transport in May 1951.^[14]

In 1954, McFadyen presided over a top-level shipping conference in Launceston, which enquired into Tasmanian shipping and freights.^[15]

McFadyen retired when he turned 65 years of age (65 was retirement age at the time), and he was succeeded by D.C. Williams.^[1]

McFadyen died on 26 August 1965.^[16]

Awards

In the 1955 Queen's Birthday Honours, McFadyen was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services as Secretary of the Department of Shipping and Transport.^[17]

References

1. "New Secretary of Shipping and Transport". The Canberra Times. 7 September 1957. p. 3.
2. Charles Hector * McFADYEN, The AIF Project, archived from the original on 5 April 2015
3. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. p. 575. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
4. Charles Hector McFadyen's statistics from AFL Tables
5. Charles Hector McFadyen's profile from AustralianFootball.com
6. "C. H. McFadyen". The Canberra Times. 24 September 1935. p. 3.
7. "Hospital Board Election Postal Ballot Closes on June 30". The Canberra Times. 23 June 1938. p. 3.
8. "Public Service: Insurance Scheme: Proposal to lower hospital fees". The Canberra Times. 25 April 1934. p. 2.
9. "Canberra Hospital: Resignation of Chairman: Mr. McFadyen Transferred to Melbourne". The Canberra Times (ACT). 5 December 1939. p. 4.
10. "Personal". The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria). 27 February 1948. p. 3.
11. "Secretary of Federal Shipping Body". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 22 December 1948. p. 3.
12. CA 53: Department of Shipping and Fuel, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 5 April 2015
13. CA 55: Department of Fuel, Shipping and Transport, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 5 April 2015
14. CA 59: Department of Shipping and Transport, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 5 April 2015
15. "Shipping study in Launceston". The Mercury (Hobart, Tasmania). 30 April 1954. p. 8.
16. Charles Hector McFadyen, BillionGraves, archived from the original on 5 April 2015
17. "Search Australian Honours: McFADYEN, Charles Hector, The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil)", itsanhonour.gov.au (Australian Government), retrieved 5 April 2015