Michael Jeffery

Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC


24th Governor-General of Australia
In office 11 August 2003 – 5 September 2008
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	John Howard Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	Peter Hollingworth
Succeeded by	Dame Quentin Bryce
30th Governor of Western Australia
In office 1 November 1993 – 17 August 2000
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Premier	Carmen Lawrence Richard Court
Preceded by	Sir Francis Burt
Succeeded by	John Sanderson
Personal details
Born	Philip Michael Jeffery (1937-12-12) 12 December 1937 (age 79) Wiluna, Western Australia
Spouse(s)	Marlena Kerr
Children	4
Profession	Military
Religion	Christian
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1955–1993
Rank	Major General
Commands	Deputy Chief of the General Staff (1990) 1st Division (1986–88) 1st Brigade (1983–84) Special Air Service Regiment (1976–77) 2nd Battalion, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (1974–75)
Battles/wars	Malayan Emergency Vietnam War
Awards	Companion of the Order of Australia Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Military Cross

Major General Philip Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC (born 12 December 1937) is a retired senior Australian Army officer who was the 24th Governor-General of Australia, serving from 2003 to 2008, and the 30th Governor of Western Australia, serving from 1993 to 2000.

From Perth, Jeffery graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and served in the Malayan Emergency and the Vietnam War, being awarded the Military Cross during the latter conflict. He was at various stages commander of the Special Air Service Regiment and the 1st Division, and subsequently Deputy Chief of General Staff, before retiring from active service in 1993. After serving for seven years in the equivalent viceregal role in Western Australia, Jeffery was appointed governor-general in 2003, following the resignation of Peter Hollingworth. He was the first career Australian Army officer to hold the position, and was succeeded by Quentin Bryce.