Hugh Gilchrist (8 August 191616 October 2010) was an Australian public servant,

diplomat A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internati ...

and author.

Background and early career

Born in Sydney on 8 August 1916, Gilchrist was educated at Cranbrook School and the

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 ...

. Following military service during World War II, he joined the

Department of External Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...

in October 1945 as second secretary in the political intelligence section.

Career

Whilst Australian Ambassador to Greece between 1968 and 1972, Gilchrist developed a fascination with Greek-Australian history. Whilst living in Athens, Gilchrist heard the story of

Diamantina Bowen Diamantina, Lady Bowen (; 1832/1833–1893), was a noble from the formerly Venetian Ionian Islands who became the wife of Sir George Bowen, the first Governor of Queensland. Personal life The '' Contessa'' Diamantina di Roma was born in 183 ...

(née di Roma), a noblewoman from Greece and later the wife of the first Governor of Queensland,

George Bowen Sir George Ferguson Bowen (; 2 November 1821 – 21 February 1899), was an Irish author and colonial administrator whose appointments included postings to the Ionian Islands, Queensland, New Zealand, Victoria, Mauritius and Hong Kong.R. B. Joy ...

. Gilchrist's commitment to Greece and the Greek people stayed with him into his retirement, when he began researching to write the three volume ''Australians and Greeks''. The New South Wales Migration Heritage Centre described the trilogy as containing both "definitive history... and an entertaining array of colourful characters and stories". In 1992, the first volume of ''Australians and Greeks'' was published, ''The Early Years''. The second volume, ''The Middle Years'', followed in 1997. In 1998, Gilchrist was awarded the Gold Cross of St Andrew by the Greek Archdiocese of Sydney. Volume III, ''The Later Years'', was issued in 2004. Also during retirement Gilchrist spent four years on the Literature Board of the Australia Council for the Arts. Gilchrist died on 16 October 2010.

Works

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Awards

*National Heritage Trust Award (1994) *Gold Cross of St Andrew (1998) *Medal of the Order of Australia (2005)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilchrist, Hugh 1916 births 2010 deaths Australian writers Ambassadors of Australia to Greece Ambassadors of Australia to Spain High Commissioners of Australia to Tanzania Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia People educated at Cranbrook School, Sydney