Ted Hicks

Sir Edwin William "Ted" Hicks CBE (9 June 1910 – 14 May 1984) was a senior Australian public servant and diplomat. He was Secretary of the Department of Defence from 1956 to 1968.

Sir Ted Hicks CBE
Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand
In office 1968–1971
Preceded by	David McNicol
Succeeded by	Dame Annabelle Rankin
Secretary of the Department of Defence
In office 28 October 1956 – 5 January 1968
Preceded by	Sir Frederick Shedden
Succeeded by	Sir Henry Bland
Secretary of the Department of Air
In office 22 December 1951 – 1956
Preceded by	Melville Langslow
Succeeded by	Tich McFarlane
Personal details
Born	Edwin William Hick (1910-06-09)9 June 1910 Elsternwick, Victoria
Died	14 May 1984(1984-05-14) (aged 73) Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Resting place	Gungahlin Cemetery
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Jean MacPherson (m. 1937–59; her death) Lois Una Swindon (m. 1961–84; his death)
Alma mater	Australian National University
Occupation	Public servant

Life and career

Ted Hicks was born in Elsternwick, Melbourne, on 9 June 1910.^[1] He was educated at Haileybury College and Melbourne Grammar School.^[2] Hicks and his parents together moved to Canberra in 1927 and Hicks studied Commerce at the Canberra University College (now known as the Australian National University).^[2]

Hicks was appointed Secretary of the Department of Air in 1951, and his effectiveness there led to his appointment in 1956 as head of the Department of Defence, succeeding Frederick Shedden, who had been in the role for many years, including for the entire duration of World War II.^[1]

Hicks announced that he would retire from the Department of Defence in December 1967, to be appointed Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand from early 1968.^[3][4]

Hicks died in the Royal Canberra Hospital on 14 May 1984.^[5]

Awards

Hicks was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in May 1956 for his service as Secretary of the Department of Air.^[6] In June 1965, while Secretary of Defence, he was honoured as a Knight Bachelor.^[7]