Walter Philip John Handmer (died 2007) was an Australian public servant and

diplomat A diplomat (from ; romanization, romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, nongovernmental institution to conduct diplomacy with one ...

. Handmer was born in

Bunbury, Western Australia Bunbury () is a coastal city in the Australian state of Western Australia, approximately south of the state capital, Perth. It is the state's third most populous city after Perth and Mandurah, with a population of approximately 75,000. Loca ...

. Handmer joined the Department of External Affairs in 1951 as a cadet. Cadets were enrolled for one year of study at the Canberra University College School of Diplomatic Studies, followed by training that included language training in some cases. After completing their cadetship, Cadets were advanced to the rank of Third Secretary. In December 1953, Handmer and his wife left Canberra so that he could join the Australian diplomatic mission in Hong Kong. Whilst in Hong Kong, Handmer enrolled to study Mandarin at the Hong Kong University Language School. In 1966 Handmer was Australia's ''Charge d'affaires'' in Taiwan, charged with 'paving the way' for the arrival of the appointed Ambassador Frank Bell Cooper. From 1974 to 1977, Handmer was Australian High Commissioner to Kenya. His non-resident ambassadorial accreditations while on post in Kenya were Uganda, Ethiopia and the Seychelles.

Haile Selassie Haile Selassie I (born Tafari Makonnen or ''Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles#Lij, Lij'' Tafari; 23 July 189227 August 1975) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as the Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles, Rege ...

, then Emperor of Ethiopia, received Handmer's credentials over a bowl of roses, flanked by guards with live cheetahs. A brass band played a rendition of

Waltzing Matilda "Waltzing Matilda" is a song developed in the Australian style of poetry and folk music called a bush ballad. It has been described as the country's "unofficial national anthem". The title was Australian slang for travelling on foot (waltzing ...

when he presented his credentials to

Idi Amin Idi Amin Dada Oumee (, ; 30 May 192816 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 until Uganda–Tanzania War, his overthrow in 1979. He ruled as a Military dictatorship, ...

, then President of Uganda. In 1977 Handmer was appointed Australian Ambassador to Israel. Handmer was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the 1987 Australia Day Awards. Handmer died in Canberra in 2007.

References

2007 deaths Members of the Order of Australia Ambassadors of Australia to Ethiopia Ambassadors of Australia to Israel Ambassadors of Australia to Myanmar High commissioners of Australia to Kenya High commissioners of Australia to Pakistan High commissioners of Australia to Singapore University of Western Australia alumni {{Australia-gov-bio-stub