Kenneth Norman Jones (17 April 1924 – 19 January 2022) was an Australian senior public servant.

Early life

Kenneth Jones was born in

Bundaberg Bundaberg is a city in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia, and is the tenth largest city in the state. Bundaberg's regional area has a population of 70,921, and is a major centre of the Wide Bay–Burnett geographical region. The Bun ...

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 17 April 1924. He attended the

University of Queensland , mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work , established = , endowment = A$224.3 million , budget = A$2.1 billion , type = Public research university , chancellor = Peter Varghese , vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry , city = B ...

, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce.

Career

Jones began his

Commonwealth 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 ...

career in 1941 when he joined the Official Receiver's Office in Queensland. He was appointed to his first

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 ...

role in January 1973, at the

Department of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

. He stayed head of that department for over ten years, and subsequently served as head of

Department of Education and Youth Affairs The Department of Education and Youth Affairs was an Australian government department that existed between March 1983 and December 1984. History The Department was established by the Hawke Government in March 1983, a renaming of ...

(March 1983), Department of Administrative Services (March 1983 to December 1984) and the

Department of Local Government and Administrative Services The Department of Local Government and Administrative Services was an Australian government department that existed between December 1984 and July 1987. Scope Information about the department's functions and/or government funding alloc ...

(December 1984 to July 1987). In total, he was a Secretary in the Australian Government for over 13 years, retiring in 1986.

Personal life and death

Jones died in

Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...

on 19 January 2022, at the age of 97.

Awards

In the New Year's Honours List for 1969 Jones was created 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 ...

. In June 1986 he was made an Officer of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

, for public service, particularly in the fields of education and departmental administration.

Notes

References and further reading

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Kenneth Norman 1924 births 2022 deaths Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Australian public servants Officers of the Order of Australia Secretaries of the Australian Government Education Department University of Queensland alumni People from Bundaberg