Bank's managing director started his career at 15, sweeping floors
- May 16, 2014
Charles Rennie
Banker
31-3-1913 — 11-4-2014
From modest beginnings, Charles Rennie's drive for perfection and vision saw him reach the top of the commercial ladder as managing director of the ANZ Bank and as a board member of some of Australia's best companies.
As was the way of the era, Charles was born at home in Kew. He somewhat reluctantly attended school at Kew Primary and Albert Park Central. Early signs of commercial astuteness appeared when he happily accepted cash from his sister Madge and neighbours as an incentive to attend school. Later, when successfully completing University High School, Charles, apart from a busy sporting career, achieved skills as a violinist, becoming a member of the orchestra and an Associate of the London College of Music. Out of school this skill manifested as a member of the Joe Avwunsoon Dincreating Tincannist local dance band. History shows that the huge potential of this band was never fully realised.
Charles joined the Union Bank at 351 Collins Street at the age of 15, sweeping floors and struggling to carry a large mailbag. Building his career with the Union Bank took him to many branches across Victoria. In 1940 he married Joan Castell, a marriage that brought two daughters, Elaine and Louise. In 1942 he joined the RAAF and served in Canada and the UK as a flight officer. After the war, he rejoined the bank. After returning from a stint at the Administrative Staff College in London he was integral to the setting up of the Australian Administrative Staff College. In 1960, he spent a year as the ANZ chief manager in Wellington, New Zealand.
Returning to Australia he then drove the bank's transition to decimal currency before becoming assistant general manager in August 1964. He became deputy general manager in 1965 and general manager in 1967. In 1969, having managed the merger of the ANZ and the ES&A banks, he was appointed a director of ANZ. In 1973 he became managing director.
Having managed the considerable tasks of moving the domicile of the ANZ board from the UK to Australia and completing the construction of the landmark ANZ twin towers in Collins Street, plus overseeing amazing growth in the bank, Charles retired from the ANZ in 1976. He was awarded a CBE. for services to banking.
Sadly in that year Joan passed away after a long illness.
Ever the perfectionist, retirement brought only a minimal slowing of Charles' busy life as he continued with charity work with the Salvation Army, Westminster Abbey Restoration, Australian American Association, Banks Rowing Club and other groups.
To his modest surprise he was much sought after as an independent director and chairman, serving Utah Mining and Queensland Coal Trust, Dunn and Bradstreet, Campbell's Soups, Sperry, Bradmill, Marrickville and many other household names. Following his retirement, business interests necessitated him travelling more than a million miles in overseas journeys.
In 1980 Charles married Joy Lazarus. Another very happy and busy time followed. Their time was spent between their apartments on the Gold Coast and in Toorak and a lot of overseas travel. Charles was an active member of the Athenaeum Club, MCC and the Melbourne Club. In his final days he was either the longest-standing or oldest member of each of those clubs.
Christmas was always a busy time. Charles and Joy spent time with Joy's family and the Boltes at the Molesworth property near Ballarat, and also with Charles' daughters Elaine and Louise and their happy and expanding families 120 kilometres away in Melbourne. Nobody was left out.
Charles avidly embraced change. At 85 he taught himself how to use a computer. He had a soft spot for gadgets and was always the person you would hand the instruction book to when you had given up on a DVD player or a digital clock.
His brain was continuously alert. To the last he managed the family financial affairs and personally balanced all of the books and accounts, in most cases shunning a calculator for mental arithmetic. Every week he completed an online order that ensured groceries were delivered from the local supermarket.
He was always heavily involved in sports as a rower, tennis player and swimmer. While he swam regularly into his early 90s he fondly remembered the opportunity he had to train with Arne Borg, the Swedish swimmer who broke 32 world records. He was a Demons "tragic" and could be found glued to the TV at any time of night watching golf or cricket.
He will be remembered as a fair and astute person for whom near enough was not good enough. More than anything he will be remembered as a kind, friendly and industrious person who above all was a gentleman.
Charles died in his sleep at Epworth. His 101st birthday lunch had been celebrated 11 days before, at which he was the life of the party. He is survived by his wife Joy, his two daughters and a stepson, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Barry Lazarus is Charles Rennie's stepson.