Van Vanthoff
Percival Evert Russell "Van" Vanthoff OBE (12 January 1894 – 30 July 1967) was a senior Australian public servant. He was Director-General of the Postmaster-General's Department from May until December 1958.
Van Vanthoff OBE | |
|---|---|
| Director-General of the Postmaster-General's Department | |
| In office 21 May 1958 – 31 December 1958 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Percival Evert Russell Vanthoff 12 January 1894 Cobram, Victoria |
| Died | 30 July 1967 (aged 73) Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Nationality | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australian |
| Spouse(s) | Ruby Ella Shanks (m. 1924) |
| Occupation | Public servant |
Life and career
Van Vanthoff was born in Cobram, Victoria on 12 January 1894 to parents Isaac and Mary Jane Vanthoff.[1]
In World War I, Vanthoff served in the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force.[1]
He was appointed Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs, heading the Postmaster-General's Department, in May 1958.[2] In the role, he oversaw development of an automatic teleprinter switching system for telegraphs, and worked to provide a six-tube coaxial cable between Sydney and Melbourne.[1] Vanthoff retired in December 1958.[1]
Vanthoff died on 30 July 1967 in Richmond, Melbourne.[1]
Awards
In January 1955 Vanthoff was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[3]
References
- Blaazer, D.P., "Vanthoff, Percival Evert Russell (1894–1967)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 25 November 2014
- CA 9: Postmaster-General's Department, Central Administration, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 25 November 2014
- "Search Australian Honours: VANTHOFF, Percival Evert Russell", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 25 November 2014
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Giles Chippindall |
Director General of the Postmaster-General's Department 1958 |
Succeeded by Mervyn Stradwick |