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Eric Neal

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The Honourable
Sir Eric Neal
AC CVO FTSE
Sir Eric Neal in Adelaide in 2016
32nd Governor of South Australia
In office
22 July 1996 – 3 November 2001
MonarchElizabeth II
PremierDean Brown (1996)
John Olsen (1996–2001)
Preceded byDame Roma Mitchell
Succeeded byMarjorie Jackson-Nelson
Chief Commissioner of Sydney
In office
26 March 1987 – 31 December 1988
Preceded byDoug Sutherland
as Lord Mayor
Succeeded byJeremy Bingham
as Lord Mayor
Councillor of the Sydney County Council
for the 1st Constituency
In office
25 November 1987 – 2 January 1990
Preceded byJack Calpis
Succeeded byCouncil abolished
Personal details
Born
Eric James Neal

(1924-06-03) 3 June 1924 (age 100)
London, England
NationalityAustralian
Spouse
Joan Bowden
​
​
(m. 1950; died 2023)​
Children2
OccupationAcademic administrator, banker, manufacturing executive.

Sir Eric James Neal (born 3 June 1924) is a British-born Australian retired academic administrator, banker, and manufacturing executive. He is a former Commissioner of Sydney (1987–1988), Governor of South Australia (1996–2001) and Chancellor of Flinders University (2002–2010).

Career

Neal trained as an engineer at the South Australian School of Mines (now part of the University of South Australia), and became a successful businessman. The peak of his career was fourteen years as CEO of Boral. He was also a Director of John Fairfax Holdings, BHP, Coca-Cola Amatil and AMP and Chairperson of Westpac and Atlas Copco Australia.

In 1984, Neal was listed as one of Australia's 125 best remunerated business executives by Australian Business magazine.[1] In 1992, journalist Andrew Cornell described him as a "tough, frequently autocratic businessman."[2] Not withstanding, he oversaw 14 years of consecutive and rising profits for shareholders and history has shown that his views and decisions made whilst on the Westpac Board were correct.[citation needed]

Neal has chaired various government advisory bodies and served as National Chairman, Duke of Edinburgh's Award (1984–92), President of the Order of Australia Association (1989–92), Chair of the Opera Foundation (1990–96). He was Chief Commissioner of the City of Sydney (1987–88) and a member of the Senate of the University of Sydney.[citation needed]

Neal was appointed Governor of South Australia in 1996, and became the first person from the business community to take up residence in Government House, Adelaide. He held the position until 2001, after which he served as Chancellor of Flinders University from 2002 until 2010.[3]

Defence sector

Neal is a former Honorary Air Commodore of the City of Adelaide Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force and Honorary Colonel of the Royal South Australia Regiment. He is also an honorary life member of the Returned & Services League of Australia.[4]

In 1981, Neal was appointed to a committee tasked with reviewing Australia's Higher Defence Organisation. In 1992 he was awarded the United States Department of Defence Medal for Distinguished Public Service for his contribution in Chairing the Council that organised Australian events commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.[4]

In 2009 Neal commenced his final role in public office, serving as Chair of the Veterans Advisory Council in South Australia.[4] This culminated in the opening of the Memorial Walk in Kintore Avenue. Neal retired from the position in 2016,[5] concluding 76 years in private and public sector employment.

Community

Neal was appointed (1984–1992) as National Chair of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award – Australia and as an International Trustee of the Award from 1987 to 1997.[1] He and his wife, Lady Joan Neal AM were World Fellows of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Association.[6]

Honours

Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) 1988[14]
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) 1992[15]
Knight Bachelor 1982[16][17]
Knight of the Order of St John 1996
Centenary Medal 2001[18]
Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service 1992
Distinguished Service Medal – Gold 2016[19]

Personal life

Neal was born in London, England and migrated with his family to Adelaide in February 1927.[20] He became engaged to Joan Bowden in 1949,[21] they were married at St Peter's Church, Glenelg in 1950[22] and their first son was born in 1951 in Broken Hill.[23] A second son was born in 1963 in Ballarat.[citation needed] Lady Thelma 'Joan' Neal AM DstJ died in Adelaide on 28 February 2023.[24]

Neal played football with the Adelaide University Soccer Club from 1946 to 1949 and eventually became the club's patron.[25]

He turned 100 on 3 June 2024.[26]

References

  1. ^ "Hawke not in accord on top salaries". Canberra Times. 3 February 1984. Retrieved 3 June 2016 – via Trove.
  2. ^ "WESTPAC SHAKEOUT Neal's rise and fall both rapid". The Canberra Times. 2 October 1992. p. 6. Retrieved 3 June 2016 – via Trove.
  3. ^ Clark, N (2009). "Reflections from the helm [Profile of Chancellor of Flinders University, company director and former state Governor of South Australia, Sir Eric Neal.]". Company Director. 25 (9): 16–19 – via Informit.
  4. ^ a b c "Veterans Advisory Council | 100 years of Anzac for SA". 1 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ Hamilton-Smith, Martin (24 May 2016). "Appointment of Veterans' Advisory Council Chair". www.premier.sa.gov.au. Government of South Australia. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  6. ^ "World Fellow – Dukeofed". Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  7. ^ Directors Australian Institute of Company Directors
  8. ^ AIB Honorary Fellows Archived 26 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Australian Institute of Building
  9. ^ "UniSA Sir Eric Neal Library | Thomson Rossi". www.thomsonrossi.com.au. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Sir Eric Neal AC CVO, National Portrait Gallery". www.portrait.gov.au. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  11. ^ "Engineering – Sir Eric Neal Building". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Sir Eric Neal Library". w3.unisa.edu.au. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  13. ^ Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, Australia[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ It's an Honour Archived 29 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine – Companion of the Order of Australia
  15. ^ It's an Honour Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine – Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
  16. ^ It's an Honour Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine – Knight Bachelor
  17. ^ "Killen, Court head knighthood list – The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995) – 12 Jun 1982". Canberra Times. 12 June 1982. Retrieved 3 June 2016 – via Trove.
  18. ^ Duke of Edinburgh Award Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine – Distinguished Service Medal
  19. ^ It's an Honour – Centenary Medal
  20. ^ Neal, Eric; Donovan, Peter Francis (2004), Interview with Sir Eric Neal, retrieved 7 June 2024
  21. ^ "DOUBLE EVENT AT PARTY". The Mail. Adelaide. 8 October 1949. Retrieved 3 June 2016 – via Trove.
  22. ^ "Family Notices". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 2 March 1950. Retrieved 29 February 2020 – via Trove.
  23. ^ "BABIES". Barrier Daily Truth. Broken Hill, NSW. 7 February 1951. Retrieved 3 June 2016 – via Trove.
  24. ^ "Funeral Service for Lady Thelma 'Joan' Neal AM DstJ". www.berryfunerals.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  25. ^ "History".
  26. ^ "Torsten Wiesel, 100 år av höjdpunkter" (in Swedish). 3 June 2024.
Business positions
Preceded by Chairman of Westpac Banking Corporation
1989 – 1992 		Succeeded by
John Uhrig
Government offices
Preceded by Governor of South Australia
1996 – 2001 		Succeeded by
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