Letter of reference from Sir Bernard Callinan
1975
Sir Bernard James Callinan AC CBE DSO MC MiD (1913–1995), had a distinguished military career in WWII and as a civil engineer. Educated by the Christian Brothers Melbourne and a graduate of the University of Melbourne BCE 1935. Callinan worked for Gutteridge Haskins and Davey (GHD). Callinan supervised large projects in country areas. Following the outbreak of World War II, over time in different roles and commands, he held command positions in Sparrow Force (renamed Lancer Force), in defeating Imperial Japanese Forces in Dutch Indonesia. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross and mentioned in despatches for his leadership in Timor. He ended his military service as a lieutenant colonel. Callinan returned to GHD in 1946, rose to MD and retired in 1978. He was conferred CBE 1971 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1986. Sir Bernard served in a variety of roles after retirement. He was chairman of the Parliament House Construction Authority (1979–85). A leading Catholic layman, he was a member of the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace (1977–84) and chairman of the National Catholic Education Commission (1985). He was the inaugural Chairman of the Institute of Catholic Education (later State College of Victoria – Institute of Catholic Education) dating from 1974 where Shane Stone worked for him. He was conferred honorary doctorates of engineering and laws by Monash University and the University of Melbourne. In 1986 he was conferred AC. The Australian Dictionary of Biography offers a fuller account of his life.
- Document type: Correspondence
- Time period: Pre NT
- Person: Sir Bernard CALLINAN
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