Page 172 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 February 1990
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DEATH OF MR A.J. WOODS
MR HUMPHRIES (Minister for Health, Education and the Arts) (10.40): I move:
That the Assembly expresses its deep regret at the death of Mr Alan John Woods, AO, and tenders its profound sympathy to his widow and family in their bereavement.
Mr Speaker, unlike the death of Mr Justice Yuill, Mr Alan Woods' death was not unexpected. As members are undoubtedly aware, Mr Woods was appointed some while ago as the Chairman of the Woden Valley and Royal Canberra Interim Hospitals Board. It was a valued appointment and a position in which Mr Woods performed very capably and wisely on behalf of the people of the ACT.
Mr Woods was appointed to that position on 6 January last year, following a major review of the ACT hospital system. In his short time as Board Chairman, much of it unfortunately afflicted by illness, he earned the respect of many and provided leadership during a difficult, formative period for that board. His advice in that capacity, particularly to governments, will be much missed. At the same time he held the position of Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority and numerous other appointments.
He was, in his time, one of the most highly regarded Federal public service permanent heads. During the period 1975 to 1988 he held the positions of Deputy Secretary to the Department of Industry and Commerce, Deputy Secretary to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Secretary to the Department of National Development and Energy, culminating in his appointment as Secretary to the Department of Defence.
During his period in the Federal public service he was involved with some 68 overseas missions with the Prime Minister and other Federal Ministers. He was also involved in numerous bilateral discussions and negotiations with governments, organisations and companies on trade, industry, energy and defence matters. It is not hard to see why his membership, indeed chairmanship, of the hospitals board was so valuable to the people of the ACT.
He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1985 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1989. He had a reputation as an expert manager and master fixer and was highly regarded in the ACT community, as well as by senior members of the Federal Government and public service.
I had the good fortune to meet Mr Woods before he died, unfortunately only once, at the December meeting of the Interim Hospitals Board, and I value that meeting. I also value the advice that he gave me on that occasion about a number of matters.
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