Murray Tyrrell

This article is about the Australian public servant (1913–1994). For the Hunter Valley winemaker (1921–2000), seeMurray Tyrrell (winemaker).

Sir Murray Tyrrell KCVO,CBE
Murray and Ellen Tyrrell on their wedding day, 6 May 1939
Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia
In office 25 March 1947 – 30 January 1973
Monarchs	George VI Elizabeth II
Governors‑General	Sir William McKell(1947–53) Sir William Slim(1953–60) The Viscount Dunrossil(1960–61) The Viscount De L'Isle(1961–65) The Lord Casey(1965–69) Sir Paul Hasluck(1969–73)
Preceded by	Sir Leighton Bracegirdle
Succeeded by	Sir David Smith
Personal details
Born	Murray Louis Tyrrell (1913-12-01)1 December 1913 Kilmore,Victoria, Australia
Died	13 July 1994(1994-07-13)(aged 80) Canberra,Australian Capital Territory
Spouse	Ellen St Clair Greig ​ ​ (m.1939)​
Children	3

Sir Murray Louis TyrrellKCVO,CBE(1 December 1913 – 13 July 1994) was an Australian public servant, noted as theOfficial Secretary to the Governor-General of Australiafor a record term of 26 years, 1947–73, in which time he served sixgovernors-general.

Early life

Born inKilmore, Victoria,Tyrrell was the third of five children of Thomas Michael Tyrrell (d. 1928), postmaster, and his wife Florence Evelyn, née Kepert.Tyrrell was educated atOrbostandMordiallocandMelbourneBoys' High Schools. He married Ellen (Nell) St Clair Greig on 6 May 1939. They had three children, two daughters born first, Leonie Ellen and Margot Evelyn, and then a son, Michael St Clair.

Career

He served for over 45 years in the Australian Public Service. For most of this time he was assistant secretary or personal secretary to a succession of Ministers including thePrime Minister,Ben Chifley.

Tyrrell succeededRear AdmiralSir Leighton BracegirdleasOfficial Secretary to the Governor-General,William McKell(later Sir William), in March 1947.

Tyrrell also served Sir William McKell's successorsSir William Slim,Lord Dunrossil,Lord De L'Isle,Lord Caseyand SirPaul Hasluck.The Queen named him a Commander of theRoyal Victorian Order(CVO), for his service rendered during the Royal Visit in 1954. He was appointed a Commander of theOrder of the British Empire(CBE) in 1959. Both of these honours occurred during Sir William Slim's term.

Tyrrell had a small but pivotal role to play in the establishment of theAustralian Conservation Foundation.The ACF began in the second half of 1964, after a suggestion was made to Tyrrell byThe Duke of Edinburghwhile visiting Australia in 1963. He voiced an idea that Australia could become involved in conservation by establishing a branch of theWorld Wildlife Fund.Tyrrell convened a meeting that came to the conclusion that, if a conservation body was to exist, its efforts should be directed at conserving Australia's own heritage. From this the ACF emerged.

Murray Tyrrell was appointed a Knight Commander of theRoyal Victorian Order(KCVO) in 1968, during Lord Casey's term. This was awarded for personal service to the Queen, and was not on recommendation from the Prime Minister. He had been attached toThe Royal HouseholdatBuckingham Palacefrom May to August 1962.After his retirement in 1973, which occurred during Sir Paul Hasluck's term, he was succeeded byDavid Smith.In 1977, he was named theAustralian of the Year,jointly withDame Raigh Roe.

Sir Murray lived at 11 Blundell Street,Queanbeyan,New South Wales,in an old heritage cottage still called "Sir Murray Tyrrell's Cottage". He was an Alderman of theQueanbeyan City Council1976–1980.

Tyrrell died on 13 July 1994 inCanberra,at the age of 80.

Honours

• 1954 – Commander of theRoyal Victorian Order(CVO), in connection with the Royal Visit
• 1959 – Commander of theOrder of the British Empire(CBE)
• 1968 – Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)

External links

• Australian of the Year biography