Frank Thorpe (public servant)

Frank Gordon Thorpe, CMG, MBE (15 February 1885 – 30 March 1967) was a senior Australian public servant. He was Public Service Commissioner between 1936 and 1947.

Frank Thorpe was born on 15 February 1885 in Kooreh, Victoria.^[1]

Thorpe started his Commonwealth Public Service career in 1901, one of the Australia's earliest Commonwealth public servants, appointed as a personal clerk to the deputy Postmaster General in the Postmaster-General's Department.^[1] When Thorpe volunteered to serve in World War I, he was rejected and instead selected for temporary duty at the Department of Defence.^[2]

In 1921 he joined the Prime Minister's Department as a senior clerk.^[1]

Thorpe moved to the Commonwealth Public Service Board in 1923, appointed as an assistant-inspector.^[1] He was appointed Public Service Commissioner in 1937.^[2] He continued working as Commissioner of the Board throughout World War II, including during periods of increasing pressure.^[1]

Thorpe retired in 1947 after 49 years in the public service.^[3] His farewell function was presided over by Stuart McFarlane, then Secretary of the Treasury and more than 110 senior public servants attended.^[4]

After retirement, Thorpe was appointed Chairman of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission Promotions Appeal Board for two years from 1953.^[5]

Thorpe died in Canberra in 1967.^[1]

In June 1936, Thorpe was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.^[6] He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in June 1939 whilst he was serving as Chairman of the Public Service Board.^[7]