History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Richard Edmund Butler

Richard Edmund Butler was a career public servant, principally within the federal Postmaster-General's Department. Commencing as a telegraph messenger in 1941, he rose steadily through the ranks, undertaking tertiary studies during his employment and qualifying as an accountant. He concluded with the PMGD at a very senior level. Fluent in several languages, he was appointed to a position with the International Telecommunications Union. He became Deputy Secretary General ad interim, then was appointed to the position on a permanent basis. In 1983 he was appointed Secretary General, the first and only Australian to hold the position. He retired in 1989 and returned to Australia. In his "retirement" he remained active and influential, accepting a number of board appointments, particularly those able to progress his passion for developing communication services in developing countries. A summary biography has not yet been prepared however the following resources have been assembled in preparation:

• Transcriptions and Notes - Richard Edmund Butler - More than 10 transcriptions and notes
• Photos, QSL cards and other graphics - Richard Edmund Butler - Nothing uploaded as yet