Lieutenant General John Sanderson named Western Australian Governor [audio]

22/5/00
Premier Richard Court has today announced that Lieutenant General John Sanderson will be Western Australia's new Governor.
Mr Court said that Her Majesty the Queen had been pleased to approve his recommendation for the appointment of General Sanderson to succeed Major General Michael Jeffery as Governor.
"Lieutenant General Sanderson is a Western Australian with a distinguished military career," the Premier said.
Lieutenant General Sanderson retired from the army in June 1998 after 40 years in a wide variety of operational and military appointments culminating in the command of the Australian Army as Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Army from 1995 to 1998.
He was born in Geraldton in 1940 and later educated at Bunbury Senior High School. He entered the Royal Military College Duntroon in 1958 and graduated as a lieutenant in the Royal Australian Engineers in 1961.
Lieutenant General Sanderson spent his early career in construction and training appointments, during which time he served in Borneo and South Vietnam.
He commanded engineers' units and was an instructor at the Australian and British Schools of Military Engineering. He has also been an instructor at the Australian Staff College and the British Army Staff College at Camberley.
Lieutenant General Sanderson's numerous Army staff appointments have included Military Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff Land Command. He completed a major review of the Army Reserve before assuming command of the 1st Brigade in 1986.
He was promoted to Major General in 1989 and in 1990 he was appointed as the first Assistant Chief of Defence Force Development and conducted the first comprehensive force structure review of the total Australian Defence Force.
In 1991, General Sanderson was seconded to the Secretary of the United Nations to complete the planning for its transitional authority in Cambodia.
From February 1992 to October 1993, as a Lieutenant General, he commanded an international force of 16,000 troops from 34 nations involved in the process of securing Cambodia and supporting elections.
At the successful conclusion of this operation he returned to Australia and became the first Commander Joint Force Australia.
Recognition of Lieutenant General Sanderson's military service has included his appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia, and Officer of the Order and - for his service in Cambodia - a Companion of the Order of Australia.
The United States of America has also recognised his contribution to bilateral and regional relationships with the award of the Legion of Merit Commander Class.
He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers and a member of many Australian and international institutions and societies.
Lieutenant General Sanderson and his wife Lorraine have been married for 38 years. They have three children and five grandchildren.
Both General and Mrs Sanderson enjoy music, theatre and are keen golfers.
"Lieutenant General Sanderson is an outstanding Australian who has made a significant contribution to our nation," Mr Court said.
"The General is looking forward to returning to WA and taking up his challenging new role."
Media contacts:
Justine Whittome/Casey Cahill 9222 9475

"We are very pleased that such a distinguished and highly decorated Australian has been prepared to take on what is a very important role in our State." (12secs/273K)

"General Sanderson was born in Geraldton and educated in Bunbury. He had 40 very distinguished years in the armed services ... and we are very pleased that he has been prepared to take this position." (26secs/568K)