Woolcott's first posting in the diplomatic service was as Third Secretary in the Australian Embassy Moscow.[1] Woolcott married Danish-born Birgit Christensen in London, England in July 1952 and the couple moved to Moscow shortly after the wedding.[2] During the posting which lasted until 1954, Joseph Stalin died in March 1953.
Later career
In 1967, Woolcott drafted a speech for Prime Minister Harold Holt that said Australia was geographically part of Asia and that it was "a basic tenet of our national policy to live in friendship and understanding with our Asian neighbours".[3] Between 1967 and 1970, Woolcott was Australian High Commissioner to Ghana. In the role, he regularly visited Ouagadougou, Nouakchott, Dakar, Libreville, Monrovia, Abidjan, Lomé, Conakry and Bamako.[4] From 1975 to 1978 he was Australia's Ambassador to Indonesia, at the time of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor.[5] In a series of oft-cited and highly influential cables throughout his ambassadorship, he urged his country to take a 'pragmatic' or 'Kissingerian' approach to the Indonesian incorporation of East Timor, largely due to the importance of the Suharto regime to Australia's strategic and foreign policy goals and its relations with ASEAN and the region, although also informed by the under-sea oil resources that Australia was claiming close to Timor. Subsequently, Woolcott was appointed Australia's Ambassador to the Philippines (between 1978 and 1982).[6]
US cables leaked by Wikileaks reveal that Woolcott had been an informant to the US, providing consular officials with information of internal government processes during 1974.[7]
Since 1997, Woolcott has been the Founding Director of the Asia Society AustralAsia Centre.
In 2003 Woolcott wrote a personal memoir entitled The Hot Seat: Reflections on Diplomacy from Stalin’s Death to the Bali Bombings,[11][12] and he also wrote a book called Undiplomatic Activities in 2007.[13]
Woolcott's wife of 56-years, Birgit, died from lung cancer in 2008.[15] The couple's son, Peter, is also a diplomat and has served as the ambassador to Italy.[9]
Awards and honours
For his services to diplomacy and international relations, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1985,[16] and advanced to a Companion of the Order in 1993.[17]
In July 2008, Richard Woolcott was selected as one of the inaugural fellows of the Australian Institute of International Affairs to highlight his very high level of distinction in and distinguished contribution to Australia's international affairs. Also that year, Woolcott was awarded the Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop Asia Medal, in recognition of his contribution to Australia's relationships with Asia.[18]
References
^, Australian Government, archived from the original on 11 February 2014
^"Her Home's in Moscow Next Month". The Sunday Herald. 20 July 1952. p. 24.
^Gray, Joanne (14 August 2015). "True Leaders 2015: Dick Woolcott has been preaching for Australia to engage with Asia since '60s". Australian Financial Review. Fairfax Media.
^"Back from Ouagadougou". The Canberra Times. 7 August 1969. p. 3.
^Juddery, Bruce (24 February 1977). "Ambassador criticised". The Canberra Times. p. 30.
^Woolcott, Richard (8 March 2003). . Archived from the original on 12 April 2013.
^Embassy of the United States in Canberra, 14 January 1974, Wikileaks.
richard, woolcott, richard, arthur, woolcott, born, june, 1927, retired, australian, public, servant, diplomat, author, commentator, acsecretary, department, foreign, affairsin, office, 1988, 1992personal, detailsbornrichard, arthur, woolcott, 1927, june, 1927. Richard Arthur Woolcott AC born 11 June 1927 is a retired Australian public servant diplomat author and commentator Richard WoolcottACSecretary of the Department of Foreign AffairsIn office 1988 1992Personal detailsBornRichard Arthur Woolcott 1927 06 11 11 June 1927 age 95 Sydney New South Wales AustraliaSpouseBirgit Christensen m 1952 died 2008 wbr ChildrenPeter Robert and AnnaAlma materUniversity of MelbourneOccupationPublic servant diplomat and author Contents 1 Early years 2 Later career 3 Personal life 4 Awards and honours 5 References 6 External linksEarly years EditWoolcott was educated at Geelong Grammar School Cranbrook School and the University of Melbourne before becoming a member of the Australian Diplomatic Service Woolcott s first posting in the diplomatic service was as Third Secretary in the Australian Embassy Moscow 1 Woolcott married Danish born Birgit Christensen in London England in July 1952 and the couple moved to Moscow shortly after the wedding 2 During the posting which lasted until 1954 Joseph Stalin died in March 1953 Later career EditIn 1967 Woolcott drafted a speech for Prime Minister Harold Holt that said Australia was geographically part of Asia and that it was a basic tenet of our national policy to live in friendship and understanding with our Asian neighbours 3 Between 1967 and 1970 Woolcott was Australian High Commissioner to Ghana In the role he regularly visited Ouagadougou Nouakchott Dakar Libreville Monrovia Abidjan Lome Conakry and Bamako 4 From 1975 to 1978 he was Australia s Ambassador to Indonesia at the time of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor 5 In a series of oft cited and highly influential cables throughout his ambassadorship he urged his country to take a pragmatic or Kissingerian approach to the Indonesian incorporation of East Timor largely due to the importance of the Suharto regime to Australia s strategic and foreign policy goals and its relations with ASEAN and the region although also informed by the under sea oil resources that Australia was claiming close to Timor Subsequently Woolcott was appointed Australia s Ambassador to the Philippines between 1978 and 1982 6 US cables leaked by Wikileaks reveal that Woolcott had been an informant to the US providing consular officials with information of internal government processes during 1974 7 He was the Australian Ambassador to the United Nations from 1982 to 1988 and served as the President of the United Nations Security Council for Australia s term in November 1985 Woolcott also served as Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade DFAT the most senior diplomatic position in Australia from 1988 to 1992 8 As DFAT Secretary he was involved in the establishment of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC forum 9 10 On 4 June 2008 Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that Woolcott had been appointed as an envoy to conduct discussions to form a new Asian regional forum 9 Since 1997 Woolcott has been the Founding Director of the Asia Society AustralAsia Centre In 2003 Woolcott wrote a personal memoir entitled The Hot Seat Reflections on Diplomacy from Stalin s Death to the Bali Bombings 11 12 and he also wrote a book called Undiplomatic Activities in 2007 13 Personal life EditRichard Woolcott is a supporter of the Australian Republican Movement and gave the Inaugural National Republican Lecture in 2003 14 Woolcott s wife of 56 years Birgit died from lung cancer in 2008 15 The couple s son Peter is also a diplomat and has served as the ambassador to Italy 9 Awards and honours EditFor his services to diplomacy and international relations he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1985 16 and advanced to a Companion of the Order in 1993 17 In July 2008 Richard Woolcott was selected as one of the inaugural fellows of the Australian Institute of International Affairs to highlight his very high level of distinction in and distinguished contribution to Australia s international affairs Also that year Woolcott was awarded the Sir Edward Weary Dunlop Asia Medal in recognition of his contribution to Australia s relationships with Asia 18 References Edit Interview Richard Woolcott AC Third Secretary 1952 54 Second then First Secretary 1959 61 Australian Embassy Moscow Australian Government archived from the original on 11 February 2014 Her Home s in Moscow Next Month The Sunday Herald 20 July 1952 p 24 Gray Joanne 14 August 2015 True Leaders 2015 Dick Woolcott has been preaching for Australia to engage with Asia since 60s Australian Financial Review Fairfax Media Back from Ouagadougou The Canberra Times 7 August 1969 p 3 Juddery Bruce 24 February 1977 Ambassador criticised The Canberra Times p 30 Woolcott Richard 8 March 2003 What Australia lost in Timor Archived from the original on 12 April 2013 Embassy of the United States in Canberra 14 January 1974 Wikileaks Richard Woolcott and Mandyam Srinivasan The Backyard Australian Broadcasting Corporation 29 August 2007 Retrieved 17 December 2007 a b c Maley Paul 5 June 2008 Old warhorse Richard Woolcott back in harness to smooth regional ties The Australian News Corp Zoellick Robert 20 July 2010 A Tribute to Richard Woolcott Asia Society Retrieved 28 December 2016 Woolcott Richard 8 March 2008 What Australia lost in Timor The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Archived from the original on 15 March 2003 HarperCollins 2008 The Hot Seat Reflections on Diplomacy from Stalin s Death to the Bali Bombings Retrieved 5 June 2008 Scribe Publications 2008 Undiplomatic Activities Archived 22 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 5 June 2008 Away with the Anachronism A Republic will serve Australia s Domestic and International Interests Archived from the original on 15 August 2004 Retrieved 3 June 2015 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Basorie Warief Djajanto 29 December 2010 Richard Woolcott An exemplary envoy The Jakarta Post It s An Honour 2008 WOOLCOTT AO Richard Arthur Retrieved 5 June 2008 It s An Honour 2008 WOOLCOTT AC Richard Arthur Retrieved 5 June 2008 Citation Richard Woolcott AC PDF Sir Edward Weary Dunlop Asialink Medal University of Melbourne 2008 archived from the original PDF on 7 October 2016External links EditBiographyGovernment officesPreceded byStuart Harris Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade1988 1992 Succeeded byPeter WilenskiDiplomatic postsPreceded byJohn Ryan Australian High Commissioner to Ghana1967 1970 Succeeded byJohn McMillanPreceded byRobert Furlonger Australian Ambassador to Indonesia1975 1978 Succeeded byTom CritchleyPreceded byGerry Nutter Australian Ambassador to the Philippines1978 1982 Succeeded byRoy FernandezPreceded byHarold David Anderson Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations1982 1988 Succeeded byMichael Costelloas Acting Permanent Representative Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richard Woolcott amp oldid 1132477374, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
