Lawrie Willett
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Lawrie Willett
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}}
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| office1 = Director-General of the Department of Health
| term_start1 = 1 January 1983
| term_end1 = 9 September 1984
| birth_name = Lawrence John Willett
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1938}}
| birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Public servant, university Chancellor
| years_active =
| nationality = Australian
| website =
| parents =
| siblings =
| spouse = Helen
| alma_mater =
| children =
}}
Lawrence John "Lawrie" Willett {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} (born 1938) is a former senior Australian public servant and university Chancellor.
Life and career
Willett was born in Brisbane in 1938.{{citation|url=http://news.csu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/1007288/Chancellor-Lawrie-Willett-Background.pdf|accessdate=4 April 2015|title=Background notes on Chancellor Mr Lawrie Willett, AO|publisher=Charles Sturt University}}
He joined the Commonwealth Public Service, in the Department of Customs and Excise,{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130831448|title=Willett to succeed Howells as Health Director-General|newspaper=The Canberra Times|first=Jack|last=Waterford|author-link=Jack Waterford|date=24 November 1982|page=31}} in 1957, after completing his secondary schooling at Brisbane State High School. Willett's early public service positions were in Queensland, before he transferred to Canberra in 1963.
Willett worked as a senior Customs representative in Tokyo between 1971 and 1974.
Willett was Director-General of the Department of Health between 1983 and 1984.{{citation|title=CA 17: Department of Health, Central Office|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+17|publisher=National Archives of Australia|accessdate=4 April 2015}} He was the first person with a non-medical background to be appointed to that role.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122279294|title=Willett's way with PS superannuation|date=28 August 1989|page=18|newspaper=The Canberra Times}}
In October 1984, he was appointed Chairman of the Superannuation Fund Investment Trust, handling the compulsory superannuation contributions of Commonwealth Public Servants.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122501236|title=Contributors to PS super fund 'suffer'|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=6 March 1985|first=Kerry|last=Coyle}}
Willett was appointed Charles Sturt University Chancellor in 2002.{{cite press release|url=https://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/charles-sturt-university/new-csu-chancellor-announced|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404005449/https://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/charles-sturt-university/new-csu-chancellor-announced|archivedate=4 April 2015|title=New CSU Chancellor announced|date=12 March 2002|publisher=Charles Sturt University}} He served in the role for 12 years, welcoming Michele Allan as his successor in 2014.{{cite press release|url=http://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/charles-sturt-university/csu-announces-new-chancellor-elect|publisher=Charles Sturt University|title=CSU announces new Chancellor-elect|date=20 July 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110612/http://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/charles-sturt-university/csu-announces-new-chancellor-elect|archivedate=2 April 2015}} While Chancellor, Willett was instrumental in the establishment of the veterinary science program at the university, and the institution grew to become the largest provider of higher education in regional Australia.{{citation|url=http://www.csu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1244719/Citation-Lawrie-Willett.pdf|date=3 December 2014|publisher=Charles Sturt University|accessdate=4 April 2015|title=Lawrence (Lawrie) Willett AO: Citation for the conferral of Doctor of the University (honoris causa)}}
Awards and honours
In June 1994, Willett was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to public administration, education and the community.{{citation|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/885206|accessdate=4 April 2015|title=Search Australian Honours: WILLETT, Lawrence John, Officer of the Order of Australia |publisher=Australian Government|work=itsanhonour.gov.au}}
In 2014, Willett was honoured with an honorary doctorate at Charles Sturt University.
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef|before=Gwyn Howells}}
{{s-ttl|title=Director-General of the Department of Health|years=1983 – 1984}}
{{s-aft|after=Bernard McKay}}
{{s-civ}}
{{s-bef| before= }}
{{s-ttl |title=Mayor of Gunning Shire Council| years =1999 – 2004 }}
{{s-aft| after=}}
{{s-aca}}
{{s-bef|before=David Asimus}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chancellor of Charles Sturt University|years=2002 – 2014}}
{{s-aft|after=Michele Allan}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Willett, Lawrie}}
Category:Officers of the Order of Australia
Category:People educated at Brisbane State High School
Category:Secretaries of the Australian Government Health Department