ÃÂÂ· '

MEDIA RELEASE

DEATH OF MR. R.W. BOSWELL, O.B.E.

Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for

National Resources and Overseas Trade, Rt. Hon. J.D. Anthony

It was with deep regret that I learned today of the

death of the Chairman of the Australian Atomic Energy

Commission, Mr. R.W..Boswell, O.B.E.

Australia has lost the services of a man who made

outstanding contributions to the nation and I personally

have lost a colleague for whom I had a longstanding respect.

Mr. Boswell gave distinguished service to science in

both the Government sector and the Services.  He played a

most important role in the management of science and the

direction of it towards the national interest, particularly in

the development of our resources. He exerted a beneficial

influence on international relations and understanding both

through fostering Australian collaboration in science and

technology and in more recent years through service in the

United Kingdom and his leading role in the affairs of the

International Atomic Energy Agency.

CANBERRA, 18 February, 1976.

STATEMENT BY SIR LENOX HEWITT, O.B.E.

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, AUSTRALIAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

Sir Lenox Hewitt, O.B.E., Deputy Chairman of the

Australian Atomic Energy Commission, today paid tribute to.

the work of an old friend and colleague, Bill Boswell, who

was appointed Chairman of the Commission in April 1972,

following years of distinguished service to Australia as

Deputy High Commissioner in London and Secretary, Department

of National Development. Â·' .

Sir Lenox said that Mr Boswell’s death was a great

shock to all his friends and colleagues at the Commission

and the Research Establishment where he would be sadly

missed. A H  cf us, he said, had enjoyed his friendship and

fellowship and the stimulation of his enquiring mind.

Mr Boswell followed in the footsteps of two

distinguished predecessors, Sir Jack Stevens and Sir Philip

Baxter. It would be no easy task for the community to

replace the scientific knowledge and technical experience

with which Mr Boswell had so successfully led the work of

the Commission during the past four years.

"Mr0 Robert William McGregor BOSWELL, ÃÂ.Ã’,,ÃÂ

BIOGRAPHICALÂ· NOTE

M r 0 Boswell had been Chairman of the Australian

Atomic Energy Commission since April 1972c He had served

as Governor for Australia to the International Atomic

Energy Agency since 1972 and in 1974 was President of its

General Conferencec .

.  Before being appointed Chairman of the Australian

Atomic Energy Commission, M r c Boswell was Deputy High

Commissioner for Australia in London,, This appointment

followed a long and distinguished career in the Commonwealth

Public Serviceo

MrÃ¢ÂÂ Boswell was born in Melbourne on 30 September

1911o  He was educated at Melbourne University High School

and graduated from the Melbourne University as Master of

Science,, He served with the Radio Research Board of. C.SÃ¢ÂÂI.R.

from 1934 to 1936 and was the Fred Knight Travelling Scholar

for 1937-1938o He was an Engineer in the P.M.G, Laboratories

from 1938-1942Ã¢ÂÂ During World. War II, MrÃ¢ÂÂ Boswell saw sea

going service in the Royal Australian Navy where he played

an important role in the.  introduction of new electronic . ..

systems, including radar0 In 1948 he joined the Weapons

Research Establishment in South Australia and was Director

of the Establishment from 1958 to 1965ÃÂ¿ He was appointed

Secretary of the Department of National Development and then

also a member of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission and

Chairman of the Snowy Mountains CouncilÃ¢ÂÂ He filled these

positions until 1969, when he was appointed Deputy High

Commissioner in London,, .

Mro Boswell had many interests in the arts,

science and education., He was a Member of the Council

of the Canberra College of Advanced Education, a Member

of the Committee of Enquiry on Museums and national Â·

Collections and a Member of the Science and Industry

Forum of the Australian Academy of Sciencec

.  M r 0 Boswell became a member of the Board, of

Mary Kathleen Uranium limited in 1975= .

M r c Boswell is survived by. his wife, Mavis,

son DrÃ¢ÂÂ R.WÃ¢ÂÂ Boswell, now living in Holland, and a

daughter, Miss Diana Boswell, who is living in Canada.,"

