James Millner (pharmacist)
James (Jim) Sinclair Millner AM (1919-2007) was an Australian corporate executive. He was head of many large organisations including President of the NRMA, chairman of Washington H. Soul Pattinson, New Hope Coal, Brickworks Limited, Choiseul Investments, Queensland Mines Limitied and NBN Television.[1]
Biography
Millner was born in Sydney on 29 November 1919. His father Thomas Millner was a Colonel in the Australian Army and his mother Mary was the daughter of businessman Lewy Pattinson. Millner grew up in Cheltenham, New South Wales, and attended Newington College before studying pharmacy at The University of Sydney. At the breakout of World War II Millner enlisted in the Army Service Corps Officer Training School and was posted to Malaya. When Singapore fell, he became a prisoner of war in Changi Prison Singapore, then later Sandakan, Borneo. He was released at the cessation of hostilities in 1945, shipping out to Morotai and then Balikpapan. Jim Millner married Jean Purdie in 1948.[2]
Philanthropy
Millner supported financially the Australian War Memorial, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney and served on the council of Newington College.