Ken Cable - ADB Medal citation

Ken Cable’s work for the Australian Dictionary of Biography spans its entire history. He was a member of the New South Wales Working Party for volumes 1 to 13, of the National Committee for volumes 6 to 9, and of the Editorial Board for volumes 6 to 12, as well as New South Wales section editor for volumes 7 to 12. His articles, totalling 75 to date, have appeared in every volume of the ADB. As author, he wrote largely on the lives of bishops (such as Archbishop Mowll), clergy and prominent laymen of the Church of England in New South Wales, also on significant figures at the University of Sydney (Professors Woolley and Sir Mungo MacCallum) and cricketers including Stan McCabe.

ADB staff appreciated his readiness to provide elusive ordination dates and other details from his meticulous card index of Anglican clergy. As section editor he offered penetrating and helpful comments on New South Wales articles. His profound knowledge of church and state and wide-ranging interests were especially useful on the working party. He spoke authoritatively on national, state, church and university politics, education at all levels, the arts, the legal profession, architecture, railways and cricket. His recommendations for inclusions, word-lengths and authors were invariably well-informed and well-received. Members of the working party remember with affection Dr Cable's geniality and wit.

6 March 2003

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