Former governor-general Peter Hollingworth dies at the age of 91
Updated . First published at
Former governor-general and Anglican bishop Dr Peter Hollingworth has died at the age of 91.
Hollingsworth was first ordained an Anglican priest in 1960 and became decon-in-charge of St Mary's in North Melbourne.
Over the course of decades, he rose up through ranks of the church and was elected the Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane in 1989.
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Queen Elizabeth II with former Governor-General Peter Hollingworth. David Mariuz
He joined independent Anglican welfare organisation, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, as a chaplain and director for youth and children's work in 1964, and progressed to a director of social policy and research.
He was appointed as executive director to the organisation in 1980 and completed a master's degree in social work.
His work culminated in an Australian of the Year award in 1991.
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Governor General Peter Hollingworth at government House with wife Ann just before the swearing in. Jacky Ghossein
He was later appointed as Australia's 23rd governor-general in 2001 under former prime minister John Howard.
However Hollingworth resigned from the position in 2003 amid controversy of his handling of child abuse in the church.
The Anglican Church of Southern Queensland said in a statement it sent its condolences to Hollingworth's family and acknowledged with "deep regret the past failings of the church".
"In 2003 a board of inquiry into the handling of complaints of sexual abuse in the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane found that, as Archbishop, Hollingworth failed to act on knowledge of sexual abuse and allowed two clergy to remain in the church, despite knowing they had sexually assaulted children," the church said.
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Dr Peter Hollingworth. Nine
"The board of inquiry also found that Bishop Hollingworth had not handled a complaint from Beth Heinrich regarding the conduct of Donald Shearman 'fairly, reasonably or appropriately'.
"Anglican Church of Southern Queensland acknowledges with deep regret the past failings of the church.
"Anglican Church of Southern Queensland apologises unreservedly to those who have suffered abuse, distress, isolation, and harm caused by the church's failure to respond with integrity and care when it was needed most."
Hollingworth's wife Ann died in 2021.
The couple had three daughters together.
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