Clarence McKerihan explained

Sir Clarence Roy McKerihan
Office:President of the Rural Bank of New South Wales
Term:18 April 1934 – 6 May 1961
Predecessor:William O'Malley Wood
Successor:John Callachor Fletcher
Birth Date:6 May 1896
Birth Place:Tenterfield, Colony of New South Wales
Death Place:Potts Point, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:Banker
Education:Casino Superior Public School
Spouse:Dorothy Juanita McCallum (m.1921)

Sir Clarence Roy McKerihan (6 May 1896 – 28 December 1969), also known as Roy McKerihan or C. R. McKerihan, was an Australian banker who served as a commissioner and President of the Rural Bank of New South Wales for 27 years from 1933 to 1961.

Early life and career

McKerihan was born on 6 May 1896 in Tenterfield in the Colony of New South Wales, the son of Ulster Scots Irish-born draper Edward McKerihan and the Australian-born Elizabeth Jane Gillespie of Inverell.[1] [2] His name was chosen by his parents for the Clarence River, in a tribute to his family that had settled in the region. Edward McKerihan was a shopkeeper, and McKerihan received his education from state schools in Tamworth, Tenterfield, and later at the Superior Public School in Casino, where his father had set up business and became a prominent citizen through his service on the councils of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church Grafton, the Casino District Hospital, and the Casino Cricket Union.[3] [4] [5] [6] While at school McKerihan undertook six years' of service in the Casino brigade of the Australian Army Cadets.[7] [8]

In 1912, McKerihan began work as a junior clerk in the Casino branch of the Government Savings Bank of New South Wales, passed his NSW Institute of Bankers examination, and later moved in 1913 to the branch in Grafton, where his parents had moved.[1] [9] [10] With the outbreak of war in 1914, at the age of 19 McKerihan enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Grafton on 26 May 1915, and was assigned to the 4th Battalion as a private departing Australia for Egypt on 16 June 1915.[1] [8] [11] McKerihan was deployed to Gallipoli with the 4th Battalion and served during the Battle of Lone Pine.[12] Following evacuation back to Tell El Kebir, Egypt, McKerihan was transferred to the 56th Battalion and promoted to lance corporal (29 September 1915), corporal (1 January 1916), and lance sergeant (14 February 1916).[1] [8] His brother, Harold George McKerihan, also served in Gallipoli as a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, where he was wounded and later died of his wounds in hospital in Alexandria.[13] [14]

In March 1916, he transferred to the Australian War Records Section, and saw service in France and Britain, being promoted to staff sergeant and then Warrant Officer Class I in 1917.[15] While on leave in September 1917 he undertook a trip to scale Mont Blanc in the Alps with a fellow soldier.[16] [17] In 1919 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, and returned to Australia on 15 May 1919 aboard the HMAT Orontes.[18] [1] [8]

Following demobilisation and discharge in Australia on 7 September 1919, McKerihan returned to work at the Government Savings Bank, being appointed a loans officer at the bank head office at 11 Moore Street (later known as Martin Place) in Sydney, and later transferred to the rural department on its creation in 1921.[1] On 17 August 1921 he married Dorothy Juanita McCallum at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Sydney.[19] [20] The marriage would produce two daughters, Dawn and Dell.[21] [1] After initially living in Bondi, from 1930 the McKerihans moved to a house, "Wingadee", 1 Davidson Parade, Cremorne, before moving to a flat in the Spanish Mission style "Silchester" building at 4 Trahlee Road, Bellevue Hill, from 1937. From 1943, the McKerihans were living in a house at 895 New South Head Road, Rose Bay.[22]

By 1925 he had become president of the Government Savings Bank Officers' Association and in 1926 was vice-president and later president (1928) of the United Bank Officers' Association.[17] [23] [24] In 1928 at the age of 32, McKerihan was appointed as chief clerk of the Rural Bank Department and was appointed a Justice of the Peace (JP) in November 1929.[17] [25]

Rural Bank

By early 1931, the Government Savings Bank was in financial trouble in the midst of the Great Depression, and on 22 April 1931 the Bank suspended payments after a drain on its cash resources. On 15 December 1931, the majority of the Government Savings Bank was amalgamated into the Commonwealth Savings Bank. The Rural Bank and Advance Homes Departments of the Government Savings Bank were not taken over by the Commonwealth Savings Bank, and continued to operate.[26] [27] In late 1932, the NSW Government led by Assistant Treasurer Eric Spooner introduced legislation to reconstitute what remained of the Government Savings Bank into a new "Rural Bank of New South Wales", with a specific mandate to support primary industries and not to operate as a traditional general lending bank, governed by a board of three commissioners.[28] [29] [30]

On 23 December 1932, the Rural Bank of New South Wales Act, 1932 was passed by the NSW Parliament,[31] and on 1 July 1933 the new institution and board of commissioners commenced operations to replace the old Government Savings Bank. McKerihan was appointed to serve as one of the first three commissioners of the Bank, alongside William O'Malley Wood (president, and former chairman of the GSB) and Henry Rogers.[32] [33] [34] O'Malley's term as president was intended to be a temporary one to facilitate the establishment of the new institution, and he retired in April 1934, with McKerihan at age 38 appointed to succeed him as president and general manager of the Rural Bank, commencing from 18 April 1934.[35] [36] [37] [38] McKerihan's appointment was praised for his young age and country background,[39] with the Wellington Times noting:

During his long term as president of the bank, McKerihan was responsible for transitioning the bank out of the depression by encouraging greater investment in building and construction, for increasing assistance to rural small-holders, and liberalising advances and loans for rural housing. In 1953 the Rural Bank Homes Department was estimated to have made over 65,000 advances for a total of, with rural advances up to, since McKerihan had commenced his term as the bank's head.[40]

McKerihan also led the efforts to build a new bank head office, acquiring a site on Martin Place for .[41] Designed in the modern Art Deco style by the bank's chief architect, Frank William Turner, McKerihan laid one of the foundation stones in an official ceremony on 19 December 1935.[42] [43] [44] The building was officially completed on 15 December 1936.[45] The grand new edifice of the bank that was completed in December 1936 was praised for its dignified presentation and for its high proportion of Australian materials used in its construction.[46]

With the outbreak of the Second World War, in March 1940 McKerihan was appointed honorary general secretary and federal administrator of the Australian Comforts Fund, which distributed various supplies and funds for the wellbeing, as well as providing hostels, for Australian services abroad. McKerihan had responsibility for coordinating the distribution of the various state funds and ensuring that comforts received priority. He permitted the executive committee to hold its Sydney meetings in the board room of the Rural Bank at Martin Place, and provided administrative assistance to the organisation through Rural Bank staff, ensuring that administrative costs of the ACF funds remained limited to only 3%.[1] [47] [48] In August 1944 and July 1945, he undertook a tour of the ACF field facilities in New Guinea and Borneo, and then to occupied Japan in August 1945, and advocated for the importance of the comforts fund to soldiers following the end of the war in 1945, arguing it would be outrageous to reduce funds while services remained deployed overseas.[49] [50]

McKerihan remained as the head of the bank until his retirement after 27 years in May 1961. When he commenced his term as a bank commissioner in 1933, the bank had no branches and a staff of 310; this had increased to 57 branches and a staff of 1,500 in 1945, and by the time of his retirement in 1961, the Rural Bank had 134 branches.[17] [1]

Later life

In 1938, McKerihan was appointed a director, and served as president (1946–1963), of the Crown Street Women's Hospital, and would chair the hospital's board until his retirement in 1963.[51] [52] [53] [54] A member of the Freemasons, and the Rotary and Legacy clubs of Sydney, McKerihan also held positions as president of the National Trust of Australia (NSW), councillor of the Australian-American Association, treasurer of the United Nations Association of Australia, trustee of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (1956–1963),[55] [56] federal director of the Arts Council of Australia, and an elder and deacon of St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Macquarie Street.[17] McKerihan was also a member of the Australian Club, the Royal Sydney Golf Club, and the Rose Bay Bowling Club.[1]

A recipient of many awards, McKerihan was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1958 New Year Honours, and was made a Knight bachelor in the 1967 New Year Honours for "services to the rural community and to hospital and other welfare services". He was knighted by the Governor-General of Australia, Lord Casey, in a ceremony at Government House, Canberra on 31 March 1967. Survived by his wife and two daughters, he died at the age of 73 on 28 December 1969 at St Luke's Hospital, Potts Point, and was cremated.[1]

Honours

Notes and References

  1. Oppenheimer . Melanie . Melanie Oppenheimer. McKerihan, Sir Clarence Roy (1896–1969) . 2000 . 15 . mckerihan-sir-clarence-roy-10991 . 18 December 2022.
  2. News: Obituary. . Casino And Kyogle Courier And North Coast Advertiser . New South Wales, Australia . 31 July 1912 . 18 December 2022 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: PERSONAL. . . New South Wales, Australia . 8 October 1912 . 18 December 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: PERSONAL. . [The Grafton Argus And Clarence River General Advertiser |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 March 1914 |accessdate=18 December 2022 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia].
  5. News: CASINO SCHOOL OF ARTS. . Northern Star . New South Wales, Australia . 12 August 1910 . 18 December 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: CASINO CRICKET UNION. . Casino And Kyogle Courier And North Coast Advertiser . New South Wales, Australia . 4 November 1911 . 18 December 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: Junior Cadets. . Casino And Kyogle Courier And North Coast Advertiser . 6 . 608 . New South Wales, Australia . 31 August 1910 . 18 December 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  8. NAA: B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920), MCKERIHAN C R, National Archives of Australia, accessed 18 December 2022.
  9. News: PERSONAL. . The Richmond River Express And Casino Kyogle Advertiser . New South Wales, Australia . 8 October 1912 . 18 December 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: No title . Casino And Kyogle Courier And North Coast Advertiser . New South Wales, Australia . 22 January 1913 . 18 December 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: WAR NOTES. . The Grafton Argus And Clarence River General Advertiser . New South Wales, Australia . 21 May 1915 . 18 December 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  12. News: Letter from Sergt. Roy McKerihan . Casino And Kyogle Courier And North Coast Advertiser . New South Wales, Australia . 23 October 1915 . 18 December 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: CASINO. . Daily Examiner . New South Wales, Australia . 28 August 1915 . 18 December 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  14. NAA: B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920), MCKERIHAN H G, National Archives of Australia, accessed 18 December 2022.
  15. Web site: Group portrait of the staff of E Subsection (5th Division) Australian Base Records Section of the 3rd Echelon. . Australian War Memorial . 18 December 2022 . Photograph . 24 September 1918.
  16. Web site: CHAMONIX, FRANCE. 1917-09. 2139 STAFF SERGEANT C. R. (ROY) MCKERIHAN, 56TH BATTALION (LEFT), AND 2389 STAFF SERGEANT GODFREY HECTOR LAHEY, 4TH DIVISIONAL AMMUNITION COLUMN, DURING LEAVE IN FRANCE. . Australian War Memorial . 17 December 2022 . Photograph.
  17. News: C. R. McKerihan—Banker & Deacon . . 33,586 . New South Wales, Australia . 15 August 1945 . 18 December 2022 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  18. News: Personal. . Casino And Kyogle Courier And North Coast Advertiser . New South Wales, Australia . 28 June 1919 . 18 December 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  19. News: WEDDING. . Daily Examiner . Grafton, New South Wales . 30 August 1921 . 18 December 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  20. News: McKERIHAN -- McCALLUM . The Sun . New South Wales, Australia . 4 September 1921 . 18 December 2022 . 19 . National Library of Australia.
  21. News: Family Notices . The Sydney Morning Herald . New South Wales, Australia . 16 September 1922 . 18 December 2022 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
  22. Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980. Australian Electoral Commission, accessed 18 December 2022.
  23. News: BANK OFFICERS. . . New South Wales, Australia . 9 February 1926 . 18 December 2022 . 13 . National Library of Australia.
  24. News: Personal . Casino And Kyogle Courier And North Coast Advertiser . New South Wales, Australia . 21 March 1928 . 18 December 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  25. News: Chief Secretary's Department. . Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales . 142 . New South Wales, Australia . 1 November 1929 . 18 December 2022 . 4464 . National Library of Australia.
  26. Web site: Series Guide: Government Savings Bank of New South Wales . Unreserved - Reserve Bank of Australia Archives . Reserve Bank of Australia . 18 December 2022.
  27. News: RURAL BANK DEPARTMENT . Northern Star . Lismore, New South Wales . 6 January 1932 . 18 December 2022 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  28. News: RURAL BANK. . The Sydney Morning Herald . New South Wales, Australia . 26 December 1932 . 18 December 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  29. News: STATE PARLIAMENT. RURAL BANK . The Sydney Morning Herald . New South Wales, Australia . 8 December 1932 . 18 December 2022 . 13 . National Library of Australia.
  30. News: RURAL BANK. . The Sydney Morning Herald . New South Wales, Australia . 21 November 1932 . 18 December 2022 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  31. Web site: Rural Bank of New South Wales Act, 1932 . legislation.nsw.gov.au . New South Wales Government . 18 December 2022.
  32. News: RURAL BANK BOARD. . The Sydney Morning Herald . New South Wales, Australia . 30 June 1933 . 18 December 2022 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  33. News: RURAL BANK. . The Sydney Morning Herald . New South Wales, Australia . 30 June 1933 . 18 December 2022 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  34. News: APPOINTMENTS. . Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales . 102 . New South Wales, Australia . 7 July 1933 . 17 December 2022 . 2451 . National Library of Australia.
  35. News: New President Takes Over . The Sun . New South Wales, Australia . 17 April 1934 . 18 December 2022 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  36. News: AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS PERSONALITIES,— . . New South Wales, Australia . 2 May 1934 . 18 December 2022 . 1 (Commercial Australia) . National Library of Australia.
  37. News: New Rural Bank Board . . New South Wales, Australia . 18 April 1934 . 18 December 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  38. News: NEW CHAIRMAN . The Land . New South Wales, Australia . 13 April 1934 . 18 December 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  39. News: NEW BANK CHIEF . The Daily Telegraph . New South Wales, Australia . 13 April 1934 . 18 December 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  40. News: Mr. C. R. (Roy) McKerihan, President, Rural Bank . . New South Wales, Australia . 3 August 1953 . 18 December 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  41. News: £625 A FOOT. . . New South Wales, Australia . 13 April 1934 . 16 December 2022 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  42. News: £180,000 . The Sun . New South Wales, Australia . 1 April 1935 . 16 December 2022 . 9. National Library of Australia.
  43. News: RURAL BANK PREMISES. . The Sydney Morning Herald . New South Wales, Australia . 3 December 1935 . 16 December 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  44. News: At The Rural Bank . . New South Wales, Australia . 20 December 1935 . 16 December 2022 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  45. News: RURAL BANK. . The Sydney Morning Herald . New South Wales, Australia . 15 December 1936 . 16 December 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  46. Decoration Reviews The Rural Bank New Head Office, Martin Place, Sydney . Decoration and Glass . 1 January 1937 . 2 . 9 . 9–15 . 16 December 2022 . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  47. News: COMFORTS FUND SECRETARY . . 9416 . New South Wales, Australia . 8 March 1940 . 18 December 2022 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  48. News: Australian Comforts Fund Secretary . . South Australia . 6 March 1940 . 18 December 2022 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  49. News: Reduction Of Comforts "Outrageous" . The Sydney Morning Herald . New South Wales, Australia . 31 July 1945 . 18 December 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  50. News: A banker stayed on to wash up . The Sun . New South Wales, Australia . 4 August 1946 . 18 December 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  51. News: THE HOSPITALS COMMISSION OF NEW SOUTH WALES. . Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales . 46 . New South Wales, Australia . 25 March 1938 . 18 December 2022 . 1228 . National Library of Australia.
  52. News: PUBLIC HOSPITALS ACT, 1929-1959 . Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales . 75 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 August 1963 . 18 December 2022 . 2386 . National Library of Australia.
  53. News: CROWN STREET HOSPITAL . The Sydney Morning Herald . New South Wales, Australia . 4 March 1946 . 18 December 2022 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  54. News: Appointments To Crown -st. Board . The Sun . New South Wales, Australia . 28 February 1946 . 18 December 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  55. News: Government Gazette Appointments and Employment . Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. 77 . New South Wales, Australia . 13 July 1956 . 18 December 2022 . 1964 . National Library of Australia.
  56. News: APPOINTMENT OF A TRUSTEE FOR KU-RING-GAI CHASE UNDER THE PUBLIC PARKS ACT, 1912 . Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales . 78 . New South Wales, Australia . 23 August 1963 . 18 December 2022 . 2479 . National Library of Australia.
  57. Web site: WO1 CR McKERIHAN - Meritorious Service Medal (Imperial) . Australian Honours Search Facility . Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet . 18 December 2022 . 18 January 1919 . Infantry - 56 Battalion - France & Flanders.
  58. News: MEN AND WOMEN ON STATE LIST . The Daily Telegraph . New South Wales, Australia . 6 May 1935 . 18 December 2022 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  59. News: MANY RECEIVE CORONATION MEDALS . The Daily Telegraph . New South Wales, Australia . 12 May 1937 . 18 December 2022 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
  60. News: LIST OF CORONATION MEDAL AWARDS . The Sydney Morning Herald . New South Wales, Australia . 2 June 1953 . 18 December 2022 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  61. Web site: Mr Clarence Roy McKERIHAN - The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil) (Imperial) . Australian Honours Search Facility . Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet . 18 December 2022 . 1 January 1958 . President of the Rural Bank of New South Wales.
  62. Web site: Mr Clarence Roy McKERIHAN - Knight Bachelor (Imperial) . Australian Honours Search Facility . Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet . 18 December 2022 . 1 January 1967 . Services to the NSW rural community.

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