Arthur Corbett (public servant)

Arthur Corbett MBE
Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation
In office 3 April 1939 – 16 February 1944
Personal details
Born	Arthur Brownlow Corbett 18 February 1877 New Shoreham, Essex, England
Died	20 March 1970 (aged 93) Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Toowong Cemetery
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Evelyn Mary Byrne (m. 1905)
Occupation	Public servant

Arthur Brownlow Corbett MBE (18 February 1877 – 20 March 1970) was a senior Australian public servant. He was Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation from April 1939 until February 1944.

Life and career

Corbett was born to parents Susan Ellen (née Kerr) and George Frederick Corbett on 18 February 1877 at New Shoreham, Sussex, England.^[1] He and his family migrated to Queensland, Australia in 1890.

As an electrical and mechanical engineer, Corbett held several roles in the Postmaster-General's Department, including to reorganise the Brisbane mail services in 1924, and as superintendent of mails in Sydney in 1927.^[2]

On 3 April 1939, Corbett began his term as Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation,^[3] moving to Melbourne to take up the role but planning to return to Queensland on his retirement.^[4]

In February 1944, a new Director-General was appointed for the Department of Civil Aviation,^[5] with Mr Corbett continuing as Acting Director-General until August 1944.^[6]

Corbett died on 20 March 1970 at Kangaroo Point, Queensland and was buried at Toowong Cemetery.^[1]

Awards

In January 1938, Corbett was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his service as Deputy Director in the Queensland branch of the Postmaster-General's Department.^[7]

References

1. Prentice, S.A., "Corbett, Arthur Brownlow (1877–1970)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 2 February 2015
2. "Big job for Mr. Corbett: Civil Aviation Director". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Queensland. 16 March 1939. p. 1.
3. CA 29: Department of Civil Aviation, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 2 February 2015
4. "Civil Aviation: New Director-General". Daily Mercury. Mackay, Queensland. 16 March 1939. p. 7.
5. "Civil Aviation: New Director-General Appointed". The West Australian. 17 February 1944. p. 2.
6. "Good Service To Civil Aviation". News. Adelaide, South Australia. 7 August 1944. p. 2.
7. "Search Australian Honours: CORBETT, Arthur Brownlow - The Order of the British Empire - Member (Civil)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 2 February 2015