28 Facts About Peter Hollingworth

Peter Hollingworth served as the 23rd governor-general of Australia from 2001 until 2003.

Peter Hollingworth is an author and recipient of various civil and ecclesiastical honours.

In May 2003 Hollingworth became the third Australian governor-general to resign, after criticisms were aired over his conduct as Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane in the 1990s.

Peter Hollingworth was born on 10 April 1935 in Adelaide, South Australia.

Peter Hollingworth is the son of Rosalind and John Hollingworth.

Peter Hollingworth's mother was from "one of South Australia's pioneering families".

Peter Hollingworth left school at the age of 16 and began a cadetship in the share registry department of mining company BHP, studying accounting at night school.

Peter Hollingworth was conscripted for national service in 1953 and, after basic training at the Royal Australian Air Force base at Point Cook, he began working in the chaplain's office and discerned a vocation to ordained ministry.

Peter Hollingworth graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958 and a Licentiate of Theology in 1959.

On 6 February 1960, Peter Hollingworth married Kathleen Ann Turner, an obstetric physiotherapist, whom he had met while on National Service.

Peter Hollingworth became deacon-in-charge and then priest-in-charge of St Mary's North Melbourne, in a group ministry of the Anglican Inner City Mission within the Melbourne Diocesan Centre.

Peter Hollingworth completed a master's degree in social work and in 1980 was appointed executive director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence, where he served for 25 years and was involved in other associated community and welfare bodies.

Peter Hollingworth wrote several books about his work with the poor which became educational texts.

Peter Hollingworth was elected a canon of St Paul's Cathedral in 1980 and became the Bishop in the Inner City upon his consecration, 24 February 1985.

In 1989, Peter Hollingworth was elected the 8th Archbishop of Brisbane, where he continued his advocacy for the poor and underprivileged and supported the ordination of women.

Peter Hollingworth was chairman of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless National NGO Committee and was named Australian of the Year for 1991, being described as "Australia's foremost spokesman for social justice".

Peter Hollingworth used his public profile to criticise government policy in relation to Aboriginal welfare and youth unemployment.

In 1998, Peter Hollingworth attended as an appointed delegate to the 1998 Australian Constitutional Convention.

Peter Hollingworth was the first Christian cleric to hold the post, though precedent existed at a state level where Aboriginal pastor Sir Doug Nicholls and Uniting Church minister Sir Keith Seaman had served as Governor of South Australia and Davis McCaughey had served as Governor of Victoria.

On 29 June 2001, Peter Hollingworth was sworn in as Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.

Peter Hollingworth told the Australian media that, as a newly appointed archbishop at the time, he lacked the experience to handle the matter.

Peter Hollingworth stepped down from his positions as the Brisbane Lions' No 1 ticket holder, patron of Barnardo's, Kids First Foundation and the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Peter Hollingworth has received a pension and other entitlements since then.

Peter Hollingworth has apologised to victims for not pursuing their claims more rigorously.

Peter Hollingworth said in May 2023 that he would cease practising as an Anglican priest.

In 1976, Peter Hollingworth was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire and in 1988 he was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia for his work in church and community.

On 21 May 2001, Peter Hollingworth was awarded the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Letters by George Carey, the then Archbishop of Canterbury.

Peter Hollingworth was awarded the doctorate in recognition of his research, publications, teaching and achievements in the fields of Christian social ethics, social welfare and poverty studies and episcopal leadership.