Neil Davey
Neil William Davey (2 February 1921 – 5 July 2019) was an Australian public servant who oversaw Australia's transition from pounds, shillings and pence to decimal currency. He has been referred to in the media as Australia's "Mr. Decimal". Early life, education, and military service Neil William Davey was born in Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia, on 2 February 1921. He left school when he was 14, and went to work as a telegraph messenger. In 1938 he became a telegraphist at the Melbourne Central Telegraph Office. During the Second World War he enlisted in the Australian Army at Prahran, Victoria, on 27 May 1941. He transferred to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 22 August 1942, and was allotted the service number VX106930. He served with Southern Command Signals, III Corps Signals, and the 8th Telegraph Operating Section. It was with this last unit that he embarked from Brisbane for overseas service on 13 November 1944. He served at Hollandia, and on Morotai, and was promoted to corporal on 17 January 1945. He returned to Australia on 9 April 1946, and was discharged from the Army on 16 April. For his service, he was awarded the 1939–1945 Star, the Pacific Star,