William Deane
Justice of the High Court of Australia | |
---|---|
In office 25 June 1982 – 11 November 1995 | |
Nominated by | Malcolm Fraser |
Preceded by | Ninian Stephen |
Succeeded by | Michael Kirby |
Personal details | |
Born | William Patrick Deane 4 January 1931 St Kilda, Victoria, Australia |
Spouse | Helen Russell |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | University of Sydney |
Profession | Barrister, jurist |
Sir William Patrick Deane,
Deane received his undergraduate education at the University of Sydney, and later studied international law at The Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands. Prior to joining the judiciary, Deane worked for periods as a barrister and university lecturer. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1977, and later that year was also appointed to the Federal Court of Australia. Deane was elevated to the High Court in 1982, and during his tenure was generally considered to fall on the court's progressive side. He retired from the court in 1995, and the following year was appointed governor-general on the recommendation of Paul Keating. Deane had a low profile during his five-year term, facing no major constitutional issues, but did come to international notice by officially opening the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Early life
Deane was born on 4 January 1931 in Melbourne. He was the youngest of three children and only son born to Lillian Elizabeth (née Hussey) and Cornelius Aloysius Deane. His father grew up in a large Catholic family in Wahring, Victoria, and won the Military Cross during World War I. He later worked as a patent examiner.[2] The family moved to Canberra in 1933, and Deane grew up in the suburb of Griffith.[3] He attended St Christopher's Convent School in Manuka and later boarded in Sydney at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill. He won an exhibition and Canberra scholarship to attend the University of Sydney, where he graduated Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws and "won numerous scholarships, exhibitions and prizes". He was a member of the staff of the Sydney Law Review and served on the Student's Representative Council and as secretary and vice-president of the Sydney University Law Society. He also trained with the University Air Squadron and attained a pilot's licence. In 1954 Deane won a Rotary Foundation Fellowship to undertake postgraduate studies in Europe.[4] He was awarded a diploma from The Hague Academy of International Law in 1955.[5]
After graduation, Deane worked in the federal
Deane joined the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) in the 1950s and served on the party's executive. He later recalled having "very strong views on the threat of communism" at the time. He subsequently became disillusioned by factional disputes and ceased to have any involvement in politics.[6]
Judicial career
In 1977 Deane was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and, in the same year, he was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia and as President of the Australian Trade Practices Tribunal. In June 1982 he was appointed to the High Court of Australia, replacing Sir Ninian Stephen on his appointment as Governor-General. He received a knighthood in August 1982.[7] On the court he formed part of the majority which recognised native title in the landmark Mabo case of 1992.
Governor-General
In August 1995, the Labor Prime Minister, Paul Keating, announced that Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia had agreed to the appointment of Deane as Governor-General to succeed Bill Hayden. Deane retired from the High Court in November and was sworn in as Governor-General on 16 February 1996.[8] Less than a month later the Liberal/National coalition led by John Howard defeated Keating's government in the 1996 Australian federal election.
Deane was Australia's first Catholic governor-general. He "represented the Catholic social justice position on just about every issue that came forward".[9]
On 28 August 1996, as governor-general, Deane, issued a proclamation that officially established 3 September as Australian National Flag Day.[10]
As governor-general, Deane received praise for his role in publicly mourning the victims of tragedies that took place during his term in office, including the
Deane's term of office was due to expire on 31 December 2000, but was extended by six months to cover the Centenary of Federation celebrations.[16] Upon leaving office in June 2001, he stated that his main regret as governor-general was that Australia did not achieve Reconciliation by the end of the 20th century as he had hoped. Howard stated he had "displayed an unfailing interest in the place of the disadvantaged within Australian society".[11]
Olympics
Deane officially opened the
Later years
As of 2024 Deane acted as Patron or co-Patron of a large number of charitable organisations working for the disadvantaged, including Matthew Talbot Homeless Services, Father Chris Riley's
The A.C.T. Government appointed him as Patron of the National Capital's 2013 Centenary Celebrations.
He is a former Patron and Chair of international aid-organization CARE Australia and a member of its advisory board.
Honours
Deane was appointed a
In 2001, Deane was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize "for his consistent support of vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians and his strong commitment to the cause of reconciliation".[20]
Personal life
Deane married solicitor Helen Russell on 6 January 1965. The couple had one son and one daughter.[5] He was described in 2002 as "a devout Catholic who regularly attends Mass at St Christopher's, Canberra".[15]
References
- ^ "Sir William Deane AC KBE". alumni.uq.edu.au. 4 January 2016.
- ^ "DEANE, Cornelius Aloysius". East Melbourne Historical Society. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ "Sir William Deane's childhood home in Mr Fluffy demolition". The Canberra Times. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ "Rotary Scholarship Won By Canberra Student". The Canberra Times. 24 February 1954.
- ^ a b "Biography - Sir William Deane and Lady Deane". The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ Abjorensen, Norman (23 August 1995). "Governor-general-designate gently sets right the image the papers gave him". The Canberra Times.
- ^ a b It's an Honour: KBE
- ^ "Racism. No Way.: Fact Sheets: The Honourable Sir William Deane AC KBE". Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
- ^ "Hollingworth Agonistes I (transcript)". Radio National. 27 February 2002. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ Australian Government (12 August 2013). "Australian National Flag: Australian National Flag Day". It's an Honour!: Australia Celebrating Australians. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- ^ a b McGrath, Catherine (28 June 2001). "Sir William Deane's last day". ABC News. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ "Our yearning for a voice above politics". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 June 2003. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ "When the right words matter". The Age. 11 November 2006. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ "Where is the Governor-General? And does it matter?". The New Daily. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ a b "A hard act to follow". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 October 2002. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ Carmody, Rebecca (28 June 2001). "Sir William Deane stands down as Governor-General". ABC News. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ PM agrees to allow GG to open the Olympics, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 11 November 1999
- ^ Howard explains Olympics backflip, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 11 November 1999
- ^ It's an Honour: AC
- ^ "2001 Sir William Deane AC KBE". sydneypeacefoundation.org. Sydney Peace Foundation. 2001. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
Further reading
- Roberts, Heather (2011). "A mirror to the man – reflecting on Justice William Deane: a private man in public office" (PDF). Adelaide Law Review. 32 (1).
- Stephens, Tony (2002). Sir William Deane: The Things That Matter. Hodder. ISBN 9780733615283.
External links
- Governor General of Australia – Official biography of Sir William Deane and Lady Deane Archived 1 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine, published by Government House, Canberra.
- A Mirror to the People, documentary film on the Office of Governor-General of Australia (1999), featuring Deane, Zelman Cowen and Ninian Stephen.
- High Court biography Retrieved 20 August 2014.