Bernard Callinan

Sir Bernard James Callinan AC, CBE, DSO, MC (2 February 1913 – 1995) was an Australian soldier, civil engineer, businessman, and sport administrator.

Military service
Sir Bernard served as a major commanding the 2/2 Independent Company commandos who fought as part of Sparrow Force on Timor in 1942. Upon returning to Australia, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and shortly after resumed command of the 26th Battalion, which served in New Guinea and Bougainville. He later commanded the 58/32 Infantry Battalion and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross for outstanding leadership and gallantry.

Professional career
Sir Bernard held many positions in the commercial field, including director of CSR Ltd, director of British Petroleum Company of Australia, chairman of the new Federal Parliament House Construction Authority, commissioner of the Australia Broadcasting Corporation and the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SEC), deputy chancellor of LaTrobe University and president of the Institute of Engineers Australia. From 1963 he served as Commissioner of the SEC Victoria.

Sport administration
Sir Bernard joined the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) committee in 1966 and served as president from 1980 to 1985. He fought to retain the Victorian Football League (VFL) grand final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and was a long-serving Victorian Amateur Football Association(VAFA) Patron-in-Chief.

Later life
He died in 1995 after a long illness.