Lew Border

Lewis Harold Border (16 April 1920 – 11 March 2011) was an Australian public servant and diplomat. From 1977 to 1980, Border was Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand.

Life and career Lew Border was born on 16 April 1920 in Bundarra, New South Wales. He was the son of an Anglican clergyman, the Ven Archdeacon H. Border, of Gunnedah. The younger Border attended The Armidale School between 1934 and 1937, He obtained a Bachelor of Arts.

Border enlisted in the Australian Army on 22 August 1942 at the rank of Bombardier. After his military service, Border joined the Department of External Affairs in 1945.

Border's next post, starting 1968, was as High Commissioner to Pakistan. That year he was also appointed Australia's first Ambassador to Afghanistan whilst resident in Pakistan.

In 1977 Border was announced as the next Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand. The relationship between Australia and New Zealand at the time of his posting was seen by media as "rather uncertain".

Border died on 11 March 2001.

Awards Border was appointed a Lieutenant in the Royal Victorian Order during the Queen's visit to the Australian embassy in Washington in October 1957.

Border was named an Officer of the Order of Australia in January 1979 in recognition of his public service.