An Unlikely Diplomat: A Memoir - Paperback

by George J. Knox (Author)

WARD OF THE STATE - AIR FORCE - BRITISH NUCLEAR TESTS VETERAN - COLD WAR DIPLOMAT - BUSINESS

This is a true-life story told by a man who believes that despite his start in life he succeeded in reaching the almost impossible goals he set for himself. There is much to interest the reader: Domestic and child abuse - Ward of the state - Orphanages - RAAF service, British nuclear tests at Maralinga, Office of the Air Attaché, Washington, DC, USA; and Foreign Service at embassies in Moscow, USSR in the '60s and again in the '70s, at Santiago de Chile, and the Consulate-General in Chicago, USA, and Business.

The author spent his formative years in orphanages run by the Christian Brothers in Western Australia. After serving in the Royal Australian Air Force, he travelled, lived and worked in western Canada, and Washington, DC with the Office of the Air Attaché, Joint Staff HQ. He served with the Department of Foreign affairs (DFA) with postings to Moscow, Santiago de Chile, Chicago, and Moscow again, until being declared persona non grata by the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs after which he continued his career with the DFA back in Australia. After retiring from DFA, he had a successful career in business as a restauranteur on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, and later managed several film and video companies. His last business before retiring was as Agency Head of the French company Bollé in Queensland. After working as a volunteer, he returned to the workforce and joined the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Brisbane. He now works with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Department of Foreign Affairs as a Protocol Officer facilitating the visits of royalty, foreign presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers to Australia.