Dick Johnson (academic)
Richard St Clair Johnson (6 June 1929 – 31 August 2019) was a former academic and senior Australian public servant.
Professor Dick Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Secretary of the Department of Education | |
| In office 13 December 1984 – 14 January 1985 | |
| Secretary of the Department of Education and Youth Affairs | |
| In office 5 April 1984 – 13 December 1984 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard St Clair Johnson 6 June 1929 Singapore |
| Died | 31 August 2019 Canberra |
| Nationality | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australian |
| Spouse(s) | Mary McAleer |
| Children | Catherine (b. 1956) Peter (b. 1957) Claire (b. 1959) Terry (b. 1960) James (b. 1961) Judith (b. 1964) |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
| Occupation | Academic Public servant |
Background and early life
Dick Johnson was born in Singapore, one of four children born to Australian parents. His father worked in the insurance industry in Asia.[1] He attended secondary schooling at the Jesuit Riverview College.[1] In 1946 Johnson began a double honours degree in Greek and Latin at the University of Sydney.[1]
Career
Johnson was Professor of Classics at the Australian National University from 1962 to 1984.[2] In his first year in the role, he established the Australian National University Classics Museum so that Canberra students could learn about ancient Greek and Roman objects.[3]
In April 1984, Johnson was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education (later, Education and Youth Affairs).[4][5] He left his role in January 1985, succeeded by Helen Williams, the first woman to become a departmental secretary in the Australian Government.[6][7]
References
- Johnson, Dick (29 October 2010). "Interview with Emeritus Professor Richard Johnson – classicist and educational philosopher" (Interview). Interviewed by Peter Stewart. Australian National University. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014.
- Nation, Daryl; Evans, Terry (1996), Opening Education: Policies and Practices from Open and Distance Education, Routledge, ISBN 0-415-14182-6
- "ANU museum unveils 2000-year-old lamp". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014.
- "Government post for ANU man". The Canberra Times. 6 April 1984. p. 3. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014.
- CA 3494: Department of Education and Youth Affairs, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 22 January 2014
- CA 4134: Department of Education [II], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 22 January 2014
- "First woman PS head named". The Canberra Times. 15 January 1985. p. 1. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Education and Youth Affairs |
Secretary of the Department of Education 1984 – 1985 |
Succeeded by Helen Williams |
| Preceded by Helen Williams (Acting) |
Secretary of the Department of Education and Youth Affairs 1984 |
Succeeded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Education |