'City of Adelaide'

His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR

Governor of South Australia

His Excellency the Governor has accepted an invitation to become Patron of the "Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Preservation Trust", the project that is endeavouring to bring the world heritage clipper ship City of Adelaide back to Adelaide.

In accepting the invitation the Governor said:

I am very pleased to be able to serve as Patron for the campaign to save this historic vessel which is so important to our heritage. Our capital city's own coat of arms, which include a three-masted sailing ship, are testimony to how important sailing ships were to the economy and growth of the colony of South Australia. This clipper is the very last survivor of those international merchant sailing clipper ships that carried passengers to South Australia and wool and copper from Port Adelaide and Port Augusta to the London Markets. Now, one and a half centuries later, we are again seeing South Australia's economy flourishing through ship-building and mining.

The Governor noted that HRH the Duke of Edinburgh has a passion for maritime history and several years ago convened a conference in Glasgow focussed on the plight of the City of Adelaide. A post conference statement approved by HRH Duke of Edinburgh's office stated:

City of Adelaide is one of the most important Historic vessels in the U.K. and every effort should be made to ensure the future of the vessel.

The Governor is pleased to be able to continue the task initiated by HRH.

His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR the Governor of South Australia

The Governor was born in Adelaide in 1952 and spent his early childhood in Woomera. He was educated at Elizabeth East Primary School and then at Elizabeth High School, from where he joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1968. After graduating from the Naval College, he served in HMAS Sydney in Vietnam and then undertook courses in the United Kingdom in 1973. In 1979, with family, he moved to Washington DC to serve at the Australian Embassy.

After returning to Australia in 1982, Kevin Scarce rose through the officer ranks whilst serving at sea and ashore. Duing this time he completed two Masters Degrees. In 1995, at the rank of Captain, he assumed command of HMAS Cerberus, the Royal Austalian Navy's premier training establishment, until promoted to Commodore in 1997.

In 1999, Kevin Scarce was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral where he assumed the duties of Support Commander - Navy. From 2000 until 2003, as Head Maritime Systems in the Defence Materiel Organisation, he was responsible for the acquisition of all Australian Defence Force ships and submarines and the support of these vessels and their equipment through life.

Immediately prior to retiring from the Royal Australian Navy in 2004 in the rank of Rear Admiral, he briefly led the Defence Materiel Organisation. This organisation, widely dispersed throughout Australia and overseas, had 8000 staff spending more than $6B annually in acquiring and supporting the entire Australian Defence Force's military platforms and equipment.

Following retirement, Kevin Scarce formed and led the South Australian Government team charged with expanding the State's defence business opportunities. One of the team's first initiatives, to build Air Warfare Destroyers in Adelaide, was successfully achieved in May 2005 when the Federal Government awarded the contract to the locally based ASC. The State's $250 m package of infrastructure, skills development and attraction was integral to the success of the ASC bid.

In 2006 Kevin Scarce became an advisor to the corporation formed to deliver the State's shipbuilding infrastructure and skills commitments, and was a member of the Port Adelaide Maritime Corporation Board. He was also Chairman of the Board of Foundation Daw Park, a volunteer organisation that generates funding for medical research for veterans and older Australians.

The Governor is married to Elizabeth Anne Scarce (nee Taylor) and they have two children, a daughter, Kasha (1978), who works as a youth counsellor with Boys Town in Sydney, and a son, Kingsley (1980), who is a Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy.

Source: Biography of the Governor Government House South Australia. (Please click link at left for full biography).