Graham Barton Feakes (20 March 1930 – 3 December 1994) was an Australian public servant and diplomat. From 1984 to 1990, Feakes was Australian High Commissioner to India.

Life and career

Feakes, born in Adelaide on 20 March 1930, joined the

Australian Public Service The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia responsible for the public administration, public policy, and public services of the departments and executive and statutory agencies of the G ...

in the Department of External Affairs in 1951. He said that his motivation for joining the department was in part due to years spent traveling widely for his father's work as a child. In 1969, Feakes became Australian Ambassador to Cambodia. During his time as ambassador in

Phnom Penh Phnom Penh is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Cambodia, most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since 1865 and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its political, economic, industr ...

, he felt some level of anxiety and concern for his family's safety. From 1972 to 1974, Feakes was assistant secretary in charge of policy research at the

Department of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral re ...

. He was then promoted to first assistant secretary of the South Asia division in 1974. Between 1976 and 1980, Feakes was the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia. In 1984, Feakes was appointed Australian High Commissioner to India and non-resident ambassador to Nepal. After his appointment ended in 1990, he was made Chairman of the first Australia-India Council Board in 1992. Feakes died at his home in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

on 3 December 1994, at the age of 64.

Awards

In January 1985, Feakes was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of service to the Public Service as a diplomat representative and in the development of Australian relations with South and South East Asia.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Feakes, Graham 1930 births 1994 deaths People from Adelaide High commissioners of Australia to Malaysia High commissioners of Australia to Brunei High commissioners of Australia to India Ambassadors of Australia to Nepal Ambassadors of Australia to Cambodia Officers of the Order of Australia