Tom Critchley
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia
In office
1978–1981
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterMalcolm Fraser
Preceded byRichard Woolcott
Succeeded byRawdon Dalrymple
Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea
In office
1974–1978
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterGough Whitlam (1974–75)
Malcolm Fraser (1975–78)
Preceded byLes Johnson
Succeeded byGerry Nutter
Australian Ambassador to Thailand
In office
1969–1973
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterJohn Gorton (1969–71)
William McMahon (1971–72)
Gough Whitlam (1972–73)
Preceded byDavid McNicol
Succeeded byD.C. Goss
Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia
In office
1955–1965
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterSir Robert Menzies
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byAllan Eastman
Personal details
Born(1916-01-27)27 January 1916
Melbourne, Victoria
Died14 July 2009(2009-07-14) (aged 93)
Sydney, New South Wales
Spouse
Joyce Gwendolyn Hews
​
​
(m. 1946⁠–⁠1954)​
Susan Cappell
​
(m. 1962⁠–⁠2009)​
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
AwardsOfficer of the Order of Australia
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceRoyal Australian Air Force (1941)
Second Australian Imperial Force (1941–44)
Years of service1941–1944
RankLieutenant
Battles/warsSecond World War

Thomas Kingston Critchley, AO, CBE (27 January 1916 – 14 July 2009) was an Australian public servant, diplomat, author and journalist.[1][2][3][4][5]

Early life and education

Critchley was born in Melbourne but grew up at Longueville in Sydney and attended North Sydney Boys High School.[6] He joined the Rural Bank after completing high school and attended the University of Sydney by night to study economics.

Career

After the Second World War, Critchley joined the Department of External Affairs as the head of the economic relations section.[6] His first diplomatic role with the department was assisting Australia's representation of Indonesia against the Dutch during the Indonesian National Revolution. He was on the United Nations Commission for Indonesia between 1947 and 1950 and played a role securing Indonesia's independence from the Dutch.[7]

Critchley served as Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia (1955–1965); Ambassador to Thailand (1969–1973); High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea (1974–1978); and Ambassador to Indonesia (1978–1981).

Family and personal life

Critchley's first marriage, to an English Foreign Office employee posted to New Delhi, Joyce Gwendolyn Hew, took place on 9 January 1946 in Delhi. The marriage was witnessed by High Commissioner to India Colin Moodie. Mrs Joyce Critchley followed her husband to Australia in May 1946. Critchley continued to live in single men's quarters in Canberra, Australia, while his wife stayed with his parents in Sydney. Mrs Joyce Critchley filed for divorce on grounds of desertion [Divorce case no. 1026 of 1953, Supreme Court of New South Wales]. Decree Nisi was pronounced on 19 February 1954. Alimony of six pounds sterling a week was granted on 25 February 1955. Mrs Critchley returned to live in the United Kingdom. She rejoined the British Foreign Office in 1950 and was posted to Beirut [Affidavit dated 15 September in the divorce proceedings 1026 of 1953].

Critchley, a keen surfer, golfer and tennis player, who also played piano, died on 14 July 2009, survived by his wife Susan and their four daughters.[6]

Critchley's daughter, Laurie Critchley, is a television producer.[8]

References

  1. ^ Farmer, Bill (28 July 2009). "Death of Great Australian Diplomat" (Press release). Archived from the original on 24 March 2015.
  2. ^ Siagian, Sabam P. (22 August 2009). "Tom Critchley: Defender of Indonesia's independence". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
  3. ^ Stephens, Tony (25 July 2009). "Supported Asian independence". The Age. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Critchley honoured". The Canberra Times. ACT. 22 November 1965. p. 1.
  5. ^ "Replacing Mr Critchley: Transfer leaves diplomatic void". The Canberra Times. ACT. 17 November 1965. p. 15.
  6. ^ a b c Stephens, Tony (24 July 2009). "Trailblazer in South-East Asia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016.
  7. ^ Smith, Stephen (24 August 2009). "T.K. (Tom) Critchley AO CBE" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  8. ^ Kalina, Paul (16 October 2014). "The Embassy TV series reveals just how badly Australians can behave abroad". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
Diplomatic posts New titlePosition established Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia 1955–1965 Succeeded byAllan Eastman Preceded byDavid McNicol Australian Ambassador to Thailand 1969–1973 Succeeded byD.C. Goss Preceded byLes Johnson Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea 1974–1978 Succeeded byGerry Nutter Preceded byRichard Woolcott Australian Ambassador to Indonesia 1978–1981 Succeeded byRawdon Dalrymple
Categories