Donald Fred McMichael (28 January 1932 – 10 June 2017) was an Australian marine biologist and senior public servant.

Life and career

McMichael was born in

Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of the ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

on 28 January 1932. He was schooled at North Sydney Technical High School and Newcastle Technical High School, before graduating from

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's si ...

in 1952 with first class honours in zoology. Don started his career as an Assistant Curator at the

Australian Museum The Australian Museum is a heritage-listed museum at 1 William Street, Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia. It is the oldest museum in Australia,Design 5, 2016, p.1 and the fifth oldest natural history museum in the ...

. He then received a Fulbright Travelling Scholarship to undertake an MA and PhD at

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

in 1953-55. His PhD thesis at Harvard University, which he began in 1953, was on Australian freshwater mussels. On his return to Australia, Don was appointed Curator of Molluscs, and then Deputy Director (from 1967), of the Australian Museum. His positions with the Australian Museum encapsulated themes that were to continue throughout his professional life - public service, environment and museums. In 1969 he was appointed as the second Director of the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, a role he held till 1973. In December 1975, he was appointed Director of Environment within the new

Department of Environment, Housing and Community Development The Department of Environment, Housing and Community Development was an Australian government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary consti ...

. In February 1978, McMichael was appointed

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a w ...

of the

Department of Home Affairs An interior ministry (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs. Lists of current ministries of internal affairs Named "ministry" * Ministry ...

. When that Department was reconstituted as the

Department of Home Affairs and Environment The Department of Home Affairs and Environment was an Australian government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. ...

, he continued as Secretary. Issues of central importance during his time in the Department included the Tasmanian Dam case and the

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is a protected area in the Northern Territory of Australia. The park is home to both Uluru and Kata Tjuta. It is located south of Darwin by road and south-west of Alice Springs along the Stuart and Lassete ...

, and the need for a greening Australia program. McMichael was appointed the first Director of the

National Museum of Australia The National Museum of Australia, in the national capital Canberra, preserves and interprets Australia's social history, exploring the key issues, people and events that have shaped the nation. It was formally established by the ''National Muse ...

in February 1984, for a seven-year term. At the time, the Museum was expected to open in 1990. In May 1989, McMichael announced his retirement from the role and from the

Australian Public Service The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia responsible for the public administration, public policy, and public services of the departments and executive and statutory agencies of the G ...

, describing the last three years at the museum as "quite frustrating and negative" due to the Australian Government's lack of commitment to the museum.

Awards

In June 1981, McMichael was made a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

for public service. He was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 for service as the first Director of the

Australian Conservation Foundation The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) is Australia's national environmental organisation, launched in 1965 in response to a proposal by the World Wide Fund for Nature for a more co-ordinated approach to sustainability. One high-profil ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McMichael, Don 1932 births 2017 deaths Australian public servants Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire People from Rockhampton Harvard University alumni University of Sydney alumni