Frank Rowe (public servant) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Rowe
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| Director-General of the Department of Social Services | |
| In office 9 April 1941 – 24 May 1958 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Francis Harry Rowe
20 October 1895 Bright, Victoria |
| Died | 24 May 1958 (aged 62) East Melbourne, Victoria |
| Nationality |  Australian |
| Occupation | Public servant |
Francis Harry Rowe CBE (born October 20, 1895 – died May 24, 1958) was an important Australian public servant. A public servant is someone who works for the government to help run the country. Frank Rowe is most famous for being the top leader, known as the Director-General, of the Department of Social Services. This government department was created to help Australians with things like pensions and other support.
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Frank Rowe's Life and Work
Frank Rowe was born in a town called Bright, Victoria in Australia on October 20, 1895.
Early Life and Army Service
In March 1917, when he was 21, Frank Rowe joined the First Australian Imperial Force, which was Australia's army during World War I. He was given a job in the Army Medical Corps, which helps soldiers with their health. He left the army in September of the same year.
In 1918, after his time in the army, he started working for the Australian government. He joined the Repatriation Department as a clerk. This department helped soldiers who had returned from war.
Leading Social Services
From April 1941 until his death in May 1958, Frank Rowe was the head of the Department of Social Services. He took over from another leader named Jim Brigden.
The Department of Social Services was quite new. It had been thought about for a few years, especially the idea of "national insurance," which is a system where the government helps people financially when they need it, like if they are sick or can't work. However, the department hadn't really started working yet.
Because of this, Frank Rowe's first big job as Director-General was to hire staff and get the department up and running. He built it from the ground up.
In 1945, Frank Rowe traveled to Canada. He represented Australia and gave advice to the Canadian government about how Australia ran its social services. While he was there, he also looked into the idea of "reciprocity of social services." This means two countries agree to help each other's citizens with social services, similar to an agreement Australia already had with New Zealand.
Frank Rowe passed away in a hospital in Melbourne on May 24, 1958, after a short illness.
Awards and Special Recognition
Frank Rowe received several honors for his important work.
In June 1953, he was given a special award called Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This award recognized his excellent service as the Director-General of the Social Services department.
In November 1958, after his death, a man named Howard A. Rusk from the World Rehabilitation Fund announced something special. The Fund created the Frank Rowe Memorial Fellowship. This fellowship was set up to honor Frank Rowe as one of the first and most important leaders in helping people recover from injuries or illnesses.
