Alex Rigby

Alexander Leslie Rigby AM ED (30 January 1916 - 2 January 2001) was an Australian builder and company director.^[1]

Early life

Rigby was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and attended Newington College (1929–1933)^[2] and Sydney Technical College.

War service

Having been a school cadet prior to joining the 55/53rd Battalion in 1937, Rigby was commissioned in January 1939. He went to Darwin, Northern Territory, on the SS Zealandia in February 1941 to join the Darwin Infantry Battalion, that absorbed the Darwin Mobile Force. Rigby was elected the first president of the Darwin Infantry Battalion Association.^[3]

Business career

• Director - Kell & Rigby (1952-1984)

Community activity

• College Councillor, Newingtonian College (1949-1973)^[4]
• President, Old Newingtonians' Union (1959-1960)^[5]
• President, NSW Branch of the Order of Australia Association (1986-1990) during which time the flagpole at Darling Harbour was presented as a Bicentenary gift to the state^[6]
• Councillor, National Trust of Australia (NSW)
• President, Australian Institute of Building (1970-1972)^[7]
• Vice-Chairman, Standards Australia (1980-1988)
• President, Civic Reform Association (1971-1973)
• Member, Metric Conversion Board (1972-1977)

Honours

• Order of Australia - Member 1981 for service to the community^[8]
• Efficiency Decoration - Awarded 1952 for service the Australian Militia

References

1. Who's Who in Australia 1988 (Melb, 1988) pp 762
2. Newington College Register of Past Students 1863-1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 166
3. Northern Territory Government – Character biographies Retrieved 5 October 2014.
4. Newington Across the Years, A History of Newington College 1863 - 1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 347
5. "Newingtonians' Reunion.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 27 October 1959. p. 4. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
6. Order of Australia Association Retrieved 5 September 2014.
7. Australian Institute of Building Retrieved 5 September 2014.
8. It's an Honour Retrieved 5 September 2014.