Person

Harris, Leonard Michael (1908 - 2003)

OBE

Born
6 May 1908
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died
5 May 2003
North Balwyn, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Radio engineer

Summary

Leonard Harris joined the Postmaster-General's Department in1926 and remained there for his entire working life. Initially he was a cadet engineer, but after completing his Bachelor of Science in 1930 was appointed engineer within the research laboratories. Harris went on to produce a microphone used for ABC radio's inaugural broadcast, set up the ABC studios in Canberra and Sydney and worked on the enlargement of the Bass Strait submarine cable. In 1959 Harris moved to the long-line equipment section where he was responsible for contracting Australia's first broadband system. He was also founder of the Radio Research Board which funded radio research in Australian universities.

Details

Chronology

1930
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Melbourne
1930 - 1973
Career position - Research Engineer in the Commonwealth Post Master General's Department (PMG)
1939
Career position - Set up the ABC studios in Canberra and Sydney
1955 - 1960?
Supervising Engineer for Long Line Equipment in the Commonwealth Post Master General's Department (PMG)
1960 - 1964
Career position - Assistant Engineer-in-Chief of Research in the Commonwealth Post Master General's Department (PMG)
1964 - 1973
Career position - First Assistant Director-General of Planning and Research in the Commonwealth Post Master General's Department (PMG)
1970 - 1975
Career position - Chairman, Radio Research Board
1972
Award - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Published resources

Newspaper Articles

  • Harris, Adrian, 'Obituary: Leonard Michael Harris, OBE, Research Engineer', The Age (2003). Details

Resources

Resource Sections

McCarthy, G.J.

EOAS ID: biogs/P001680b.htm

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