Harry Christian Giese (9 December 1913 – 4 February 2000) administered Australian federal government policy for the people of the Northern Territory under Prime Ministers including

Robert Menzies The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...

and

Harold Holt Harold Edward Holt (5 August 190817 December 1967) was an Australian politician who served as the 17th prime minister of Australia from 1966 until his presumed death in 1967. He held office as leader of the Liberal Party. Holt was born in S ...

and Ministers including

Paul Hasluck Sir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck, (1 April 1905 – 9 January 1993) was an Australian statesman who served as the 17th Governor-General of Australia, in office from 1969 to 1974. Prior to that, he was a Liberal Party politician, holding min ...

Biography and career

Giese was a third-generation descendant of a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

family who migrated to Australia in the 1870s. In 1954, after senior

public service A public service is any service intended to address specific needs pertaining to the aggregate members of a community. Public services are available to people within a government jurisdiction as provided directly through public sector agencies ...

jobs in Western Australia and Queensland, he moved to Darwin as the Director of Welfare in the Northern Territory Administration. He was the longest-serving member of the

Northern Territory Legislative Council The Northern Territory Legislative Council was the partly elected governing body of the Northern Territory of Australia from 1947 until its replacement by the fully elected Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in 1974. Prior to 1947, there ha ...

, from 1954 to 1973. After

Cyclone Tracy Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from 24 to 26 December 1974. The small, developing easterly storm had been observed passing clear of the city initially, but then turned t ...

Giese headed the Darwin Disaster Welfare Council and in 1978, after Territory self-government, he became the first Northern Territory

Ombudsman An ombudsman (, also ,), ombud, ombuds, ombudswoman, ombudsperson or public advocate is an official who is usually appointed by the government or by parliament (usually with a significant degree of independence) to investigate complaints and at ...

. As founding Chairman of the NT Committee of the Menzies Foundation he was instrumental in the establishment of the

Menzies School of Health Research Charles Darwin University (CDU) is an Australian public university with a main campus in Darwin and eight satellite campuses in some metropolitan and regional areas. It was established in 2003 after the merger of Northern Territory University, ...

, serving on its Board of Governors and as Deputy Chairman from 1985 to 1995. The School is now one of Australia's leading medical research institutes, and a global leader in tropical research into life-threatening illnesses. Harry Giese's obituary in the Menzies Foundation Annual Report 1999 said that ‘the continuing contribution made...to the health of northern Australians is a tribute to the vision, the enthusiasm and the advocacy of Harry Giese, who first identified the need for such a School, and who later vigorously pursued its establishment and strongly supported its work.' He was made a Member 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 ...

and an Honorary Fellow of 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 ...

. Giese was Foundation President and honorary Life Member of numerous community service and sporting organisations, including the

Royal Life Saving Society Australia The Royal Life Saving Society of Australia (RLSSA) is a water safety, swimming and lifesaving education organisation in Australia. RLSSA provides courses in water safety, lifesaving and resuscitation. See also *Royal Life Saving Society UK *Roya ...

, Darwin Probus Club, Darwin Disaster Welfare Council after the 1974 destruction of

, and the Institute of Public Administration.Northern Territory Archives Service, Darwin , NTRS 226, Oral History interviews transcript 755.

References

*H.C. Giese, Director of Welfare, ''Partnership towards Aboriginal Progress'', in ''Focus 70'' supplement, ''Northern Territory News'', March 1970 *Personal papers relating to government administration in welfare and Aboriginal affairs, 1929–86, NTRS 1043/P1, Northern Territory Archives Service, Darwin *''Welfare Branch Annual Reports, 1954–1972'', Northern Territory Administration, AGPS, Canberra at 15 Australian libraries; see http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12488134?versionId=14755357 *Harry Giese, interviews April 1987 – September 1991, NTRS 226, TS 755, Northern Territory Archives Service, Darwin *''Menzies Foundation Annual Reports'', including pages 11–13 of the 1999 Annual Report *''Annual Reports'' and ''President's Report'' of community organisations such as the Royal Life Saving Society at https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/nt/About-Royal-Life-Saving-NT *''Menzies School of Health Research, 30 years of supporting Indigenous health and medical research'' https://www.menziesfoundation.org.au/menzies-legacy-projects/health-research, https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/Menzies_30th/Our_Journey, https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/About_Us/Achievements/ 1913 births 2000 deaths Society in the Northern Territory Ombudsmen in Australia Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Council Members of the Order of Australia Members of the Order of the British Empire Administrators of the Northern Territory Northern Territory politicians Northern Territory federal politicians 20th-century Australian politicians {{Australia-politician-stub

Biography and career

References

Further reading