Sir John Ernest PAGAN ¹

   Another name for John was Sir Jock.

  General Notes:

Sir John PAGAN

His first experience was as junior sales assistant at Grace Bros.(1930), then packer, and finally salesman (1933). In 1934, he joined P. Rowe Pty. Ltd., a firm of soft goods importers, owned by his uncle Percy Rowe.

On outbreak of war, he was already a Sergeant (militia) in R.A.A., and was mobilised in September 1939. He served in Artillery regiments with the A.I.F. in Middle East, and in New Guinea. He was awarded the M.B.E. for commanding his regiment in the landing of the 9th Division at Finschhafen and subsequent operations.

Returning to Australia in 1945, he was appointed to the Board of P. Rowe, later becoming Managing Director and Executive Chairman in 1958.

In 1948, on the C.M.F. being revived, he raised the 1st. A.A. Regiment, and in 1958 he was promoted to Brigadier. He was also Hon. Col. of Corps of School Cadets, and Col. Commandant of Royal Regiment, Aust. Artillery. From 1950-55, he was Hon. A.D.C. to the Governor of N.S.W.

His public and community services were numerous. The main ones were: Liberal Party, State President 1963-66, Federal President 1966-70; Agent-General for N.S.W. in U.K. and Europe 1970-72; Big Brother Movement from 1962 (President from 1981); Australian Brain Foundation (President); Scout Assoc. Aust. (Commissioner; Nat. Councillor); Girl Guide Assoc.; Anglican Retirement Villages; Employer Support for Reserve Forces; Jas. McGrath Foundation (Odyssey Drug prevention and cure); Nat. Parks and Wildlife Foundation; N.S.W. Society for Crippled Children; Board of R.P.A. Hospital; C'wealth Immigration Advisory Council.

He was a Freeman of the City of London (1973); Liveryman, the Worshipful Company of Woolmen (1984); Fellow Royal Geog. Society.

As principal of the P. Rowe group, Sir John was responsible for building freehold premises at Waterloo, and for expanding the business, with branches in other Australian States and South Africa. In the commercial sphere, he was a Director of other Companies, which included Advance Bank; National Nederlanden (Aust.); Medicine Journal Pty. Ltd.; H.M.Bates Pty. Ltd.; Mercantile Mutual Holdings Ltd.; Angus & Coote Holdings Ltd.

Their principal residences in Sydney included 93 Wolseley Rd, Point Piper, and latterly 2 Lincoln Place, Edgecliff. The former country home "Kennerton Green" at Mittagong included a famous garden created by Sir John and Lady Pagan, under the direction of Ivan Hansen. Nearby, there is also a grazing property.

John married Emily Marjorie HOSKINS, daughter of Sir Cecil Harold HOSKINS Kt and Dorothy Gwynn LOVERIDGE.