Frank Rowe (public servant)

Frank Rowe was born in Bright, Victoria on 20 October 1895.{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |id2=rowe-francis-harry-11573|title=Rowe, Francis Harry (1895–1958)|first=Helen|last=Boxall|url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rowe-francis-harry-11573|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219075647/http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rowe-francis-harry-11573|url-status=dead|archivedate=19 February 2015}}

In March 1917, Rowe enlisted in the First Australian Imperial Force and was assigned to a position in the Army Medical Corps. He was discharged in September that year.

In 1918 he joined the Commonwealth Public Service in the Repatriation Department, as a clerk.

Between April 1941 and his death in May 1958, Rowe was head of the Department of Social Services.{{citation|title=CA 32: Department of Social Services, Central Office|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+32|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131215074001/http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+32|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 December 2013|publisher=National Archives of Australia|accessdate=19 February 2015}} He took over from Jim Brigden who had held the position only nominally since the idea of national insurance had been considered two years before, but the Department had never functioned. For this reason, Rowe's first act as Director-General was to engage staff.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2597220|title=Social Services: Staffing of New Department|date=10 April 1941|page=6|newspaper=The Canberra Times}}

In 1945, Rowe traveled to Canada, representing Australia, to advise the Canadian Ministry of National Health and Welfare on Australia's social services.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62865977|title=Social services: "Advice" to Canada|newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin|page=2|date=13 December 1945}} While in the country, Rowe explored the possibility of a reciprocity of social services, like the arrangement in place between Australia and New Zealand.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2693610|title=Australia Lagging In Social Welfare|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=23 August 1946|page=1}}

Rowe died in a Melbourne hospital on 24 May 1958 after a short illness.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91251361|title=Social Services Head Dies|newspaper=The Canberra Times|page=2|date=26 May 1958}}

In June 1953 Rowe was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his service as Director-General of the Social Services department.{{citation|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1064901|archivedate=19 February 2015|publisher=Australian Government|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219080836/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1064901&search_type=quick&showInd=true|work=itsanhonour.gov.au|title=Search Australian Honours: ROWE, Francis Harry, Award: The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil)}}

In November 1958 Howard A. Rusk from the World Rehabilitation Fund announced the Fund had established the Frank Rowe Memorial Fellowship to honour Rowe as one of the pioneer leaders of rehabilitation.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article190217376|title=Rehabilitation Pioneer: Memorial Fellowship|date=19 November 1958|page=20|newspaper=The Biz|location=Fairfield, New South Wales}}

{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-gov}}

{{s-bef|before=Jim Brigden}}

{{s-ttl|title=Director-General of the Department of Social Services|years=1941 – 1958}}

{{s-aft|after=Herbert Goodes}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowe, Frank}}

Category:1895 births

Category:1958 deaths

Category:People from Bright, Victoria

Category:Australian public servants

Category:Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire