Anthony Joseph “Tony” Ayers was born on September 16, 1933, and died on April 11, 2016.

He was a senior Australian public servant.

Ayers’s initial job was teaching in a Victorian school.

Later, Tony was an education officer in Pentridge Prison, Melbourne.

During 1967, he relocated to Canberra as Director of Welfare in the Department of the Interior.

Tony was appointed to his first Secretary role in 1979 as head of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

Soon after that he relocated, in 1981, to the Department of Social Security (DSS).

During his time at DSS he served concurrently for three months as Acting Secretary of the Department of Community Services.

Ayers moved to an appointment as Secretary of the Department of Community Services and Health when the Hawke Government restructured the public service and created “super ministries” in 1987.

However, his final posting in the Australian Public Service was as Secretary of the Department of Defence between 1988 and 1998.

Ayers was shown recognition for his work in the Department, one of the few departmental heads who has left the Department of Defence on their own accord, rather than being compelled to leave by the Defence Minister, in the last 30 years.

Tony was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in June 1985.

Ayers was promoted to a Companion of the Order of Australia, in January 1993, in recognition of service to leadership in the development and implementation of administrative structures, systems and procedures.

Tony Ayers passed away at 82 yrs old.