Peter James Lawler OBE (1921 - 2017)

Born 23 Mar 1921 in Paddington, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Patricia Margaret (Thornton) Lawler — married 1944 in Redfern, New South Wales, Australia

Died 1 Apr 2017 at age 96 in Garran, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

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Biography

Peter Lawler OBE is Notable.

Sir Peter Lawler OBE was an Australian senior public servant and diplomat, his career culminating as Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See.

Peter Lawler OBE was born in New South Wales, Australia

Peter Lawler OBE has Irish ancestors.

Peter James Lawler was born on 23rd March 1921 in Paddington, New South Wales, Australia. He was the son of James Lawler and Anne Allwell. ^[1] His maternal grandfather, Peter Allwell, was an Irish-born tin and diamond miner.

He was educated at St Joseph's College Hunters Hill; St Stanislaus College, Bathurst; and the University of Sydney, graduating in economics.

Peter married Patricia Thornton in 1944 in Redfern, New South Wales. ^[2]

Peter joined the Department of Postwar Reconstruction in 1944, then the Prime Minister's Department in 1950. In 1951, along with Kenneth Herde, he was seconded to the UK Cabinet Office in London to do research on the workings of government, with a view to bringing back ideas that could be applied within the Australian context. He remained there until 1953, also undertaking postgraduate training in several European cities.

Following Patricia's death in childbirth with their sixth child Gerard in 1957, Peter married a second time the following year, to Mary Robinson.

Peter became a Deputy Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department in 1964. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours 1965. ^[3] He wrote the 1966 Cabinet decision that led to the abolition of the White Australia policy. From 1972 to 1975 Peter was Secretary of the Department of the Special Minister of State, then Secretary of the Department of Administrative Services from 1975 to 1983. In 1978 he headed up a small taskforce to implement the recommended creation of the Australian Federal Police. In the Queen's Birthday Honours 1981, Peter was created Knight Bachelor. ^[4]

In March 1983 Peter was appointed Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland and Ambassador to the Holy See, serving until his retirement in 1986. In 1986 he received the papal honour of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX.

He was awarded the Centenary Medal on 1st January 2001 'for service to Australian society through public service leadership'. ^[5]

Aged 96 years and widowed for the second time, Sir Peter Lawler passed away on 1st April 2017 in the National Capital Private Hospital, Garran, Canberra. He was survived by his seven children from his two marriages and their families. ^[6]

"LAWLER

"Sir Peter OBE, KGCP

"23.03.1921 – 01.04.2017

"Passed away peacefully in Canberra aged 96.

"Patriarch of the Kibbutz, - Defender of the faith.

"Beloved husband of Patricia (dec.) and Mary Doreen (dec.). Loving father of Geraldine, Anthony, Mary, Peter, John, Gerard (dec.), Michael and Christopher. Beloved father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather and a loyal friend to many.

"Requiescat in Pace.

"Sincere thanks to the doctors and staff at the National Capital Private Hospital in Garran for their dedication and compassion in caring for Sir Peter."

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #23941/1921
2. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #25217/1944
3. ↑ Australian Honours: OBE; accessed 18 May 2024
4. ↑ Australian Honours: Knight Bachelor; accessed 18 May 2024
5. ↑ Australian Honours: Centenary Medal; accessed 18 May 2024
6. ↑ The Age obituary 4 Oct 2017; accessed 18 May 2024