The Rt Hon Richard Gardiner Casey Baron of Berwick, Victoria and of the City of Westminister KG GCMG CH (1890 - 1976)
1969 Award

Governor General of Australia 1965-69

Born in Brisbane, Casey began his political career in 1931 as United Australia Party MP for Corio, Victoria, in the House of Representatives. He served as Treasurer under Lyons, 1935 - 39, and as Minister for Supply and Development under Menzies, 1939 - 40. In 1940 he was posted to Washington as Australia's first diplomatic representative outside London. Later he was UK Minister of State in the Middle East, 1942 - 43, and Governor of Bengal, 1944 - 46. Casey re-entered federal politics as a Liberal MP and, after holding other portfolios, became Minister for External Affairs 1951 - 60. He retired in 1960 upon becoming a life peer. He was Governor-General of Australia, 1965 - 69, and the first Australian to become a Knight of the Garter.

Casey's inherited wealth meant that he had no need to work, but he lived according to Roosevelt's doctrine of 'the strenuous life', in which a life of hard work for the common benefit justifies good fortune.