Sir William Patrick Deane,AC,KBE,KC(born 4 January 1931) is an Australian barrister and jurist who served as the 22ndgovernor-general of Australia,in office from 1996 to 2001. He was previously a Justice of theHigh Court of Australiafrom 1982 to 1995.
Sir William Deane | |
|---|---|
 Deanec.2000 | |
| 22ndGovernor-General of Australia | |
| In office 16 February 1996[1]– 29 June 2001 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Paul Keating John Howard |
| Preceded by | Bill Hayden |
| Succeeded by | Peter Hollingworth |
| 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 |
Deane received his undergraduate education at theUniversity of Sydney,and later studiedinternational lawatThe Hague Academy of International Lawin the Netherlands. Prior to joining the judiciary, Deane worked for periods as abarristerand university lecturer. He was appointed to theSupreme Court of New South Walesin 1977, and later that year was also appointed to theFederal 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 ofPaul Keating.Deane had a low profile during his five-year term, facing no major constitutional issues, but did come to international notice byofficially openingthe2000 Summer Olympics.
Early life
editDeane was born on 4 January 1931 inMelbourne.He was the youngest of three children and only son born to Lillian Elizabeth (néeHussey) and Cornelius Aloysius Deane. His father grew up in a large Catholic family inWahring, Victoria,and won theMilitary Crossduring World War I. He later worked as a patent examiner.[2]The family moved toCanberrain 1933, and Deane grew up in the suburb ofGriffith.[3]He attended St Christopher's Convent School inManukaand later boarded in Sydney atSt Joseph's College, Hunters Hill.He won an exhibition and Canberra scholarship to attend theUniversity of Sydney,where he graduated Bachelor of Arts andBachelor of Lawsand "won numerous scholarships, exhibitions and prizes". He was a member of the staff of theSydney Law Reviewand served on theStudent's Representative Counciland 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 fromThe Hague Academy of International Lawin 1955.[5]
After graduation, Deane worked in the federalAttorney-General's DepartmentinCanberraand at the law firm Minter Simpson (later to becomeMinter Ellison). He was called to theSydneyBar in 1957 and also lectured in law at university.
Deane joined theDemocratic 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
editIn 1977, Deane was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court ofNew South Walesand, 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 theHigh Court of Australia,replacingSir Ninian Stephenon his appointment as Governor-General. He received a knighthood in August 1982.[7]On the court he formed part of the majority which recognisednative titlein the landmarkMabocase of 1992.
Governor-General
edit
In August 1995, the Labor Prime Minister,Paul Keating,announced thatElizabeth II,Queen of Australiahad agreed to the appointment of Deane as Governor-General to succeedBill 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 theLiberal/Nationalcoalition led byJohn Howarddefeated Keating's government in the1996 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 asAustralian 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 thePort Arthur massacre(1996), theThredbo landslide(1997) theSwiss canyoning disaster(1999) and theChilders Palace Backpackers Hostel fire(2000).[11][12]His speech in Switzerland titled "It is still winter at home" was especially well received.[13][14]He also was asked to deliver theeulogiesat the funerals of several prominent Australians, including SirDonald Bradman,Nugget Coombs,DameRoma Mitchell,SirMarcus Oliphant,andMum Shirl.[15]
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 achieveReconciliationby 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
editDeane officially opened the2000 Summer Olympics,giving a brief speech in front of a crowd of 110,000 people at theSydney Olympic Stadium.Prime MinisterJohn Howardhad originally planned to open the games himself, with the agreement of the organizing committee and theInternational Olympic Committee(IOC). However, in November 1999 he changed his mind and advised the IOC that Deane would be opening the games. Howard said this was due to "a concern that my opening the Olympic Games would become a party political issue [...] I think in the long run it'll be better for the Olympic Games for the Governor-General to open them because we will be removing that one area of political controversy". Members of the opposition Labor Party had advocated that the Queen be asked to perform the honours, arguing that it was hypocritical for Howard to support the retention of the monarchy at the1999 republic referendumbut not call upon the Queen to represent Australia.[17][18]
Later years
editAs 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'sYouth off the Streets,theStarlight Foundationand theAustralian Indigenous Education Foundation.He was also a Patron ofReconciliation Australiaand of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association.
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-organizationCARE Australiaand a member of its advisory board.
Honours
editDeane was appointed aKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire(KBE) on 10 August 1982, a few weeks after being appointed to the High Court.[7]OnAustralia Day1988, he was made aCompanion of the Order of Australia(AC). He is also aKnight Commander with Star of the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Greatand aKnight of the Venerable Order of St. John.[19]
In 2001, Deane was awarded theSydney Peace Prize"for his consistent support of vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians and his strong commitment to the cause of reconciliation".[20]
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Personal life
editDeane 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 atSt Christopher's, Canberra".[15]
References
edit- ^"Sir William Deane AC KBE".alumni.uq.edu.au.4 January 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 5 November 2023.Retrieved29 December2021.
- ^"DEANE, Cornelius Aloysius".East Melbourne Historical Society.Archivedfrom the original on 15 March 2019.Retrieved17 May2020.
- ^"Sir William Deane's childhood home in Mr Fluffy demolition".The Canberra Times.11 November 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 12 December 2020.Retrieved17 May2020.
- ^"Rotary Scholarship Won By Canberra Student".The Canberra Times.24 February 1954.Archivedfrom the original on 12 December 2020.Retrieved17 May2020.
- ^ab"Biography - Sir William Deane and Lady Deane".The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.Archivedfrom the original on 25 March 2020.Retrieved17 May2020.
- ^Abjorensen, Norman (23 August 1995)."Governor-general-designate gently sets right the image the papers gave him".The Canberra Times.Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2021.Retrieved16 May2020.
- ^ab"It's an Honour: KBE".Archivedfrom the original on 6 August 2024.Retrieved22 March2023.
- ^"Racism. No Way.: Fact Sheets: The Honourable Sir William Deane AC KBE".Archived fromthe originalon 5 October 2007.Retrieved2 October2007.
- ^"Hollingworth Agonistes I (transcript)".Radio National.27 February 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 6 August 2024.Retrieved4 June2018.
- ^Australian Government (12 August 2013)."Australian National Flag: Australian National Flag Day".It's an Honour!: Australia Celebrating Australians.Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2013.Retrieved3 September2013.
- ^abMcGrath, Catherine (28 June 2001)."Sir William Deane's last day".ABC News.Archivedfrom the original on 11 May 2017.Retrieved17 May2020.
- ^"Our yearning for a voice above politics".The Sydney Morning Herald.2 June 2003.Archivedfrom the original on 26 January 2021.Retrieved17 May2020.
- ^"When the right words matter".The Age.11 November 2006.Archivedfrom the original on 23 April 2023.Retrieved17 May2020.
- ^"Where is the Governor-General? And does it matter?".The New Daily. 28 April 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 11 May 2020.Retrieved17 May2020.
- ^ab"A hard act to follow".The Sydney Morning Herald.26 October 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 18 December 2021.Retrieved17 May2020.
- ^Carmody, Rebecca (28 June 2001)."Sir William Deane stands down as Governor-General".ABC News.Archivedfrom the original on 26 May 2022.Retrieved17 May2020.
- ^PM agrees to allow GG to open the OlympicsArchived11 May 2017 at theWayback Machine,Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 11 November 1999
- ^Howard explains Olympics backflipArchived11 May 2017 at theWayback Machine,Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 11 November 1999
- ^"It's an Honour: AC".Archivedfrom the original on 6 August 2024.Retrieved22 March2023.
- ^"2001 Sir William Deane AC KBE".sydneypeacefoundation.org.Sydney Peace Foundation. 2001.Archivedfrom the original on 6 August 2024.Retrieved31 December2014.
- ^Grants and Confirmations of Arms.Vol. Y. Genealogical Office.
{{cite book}}:Unknown parameter|folio=ignored (help) - ^"Grants and Confirmations of Arms, Volume Y".National Library of Ireland. 1999. p. 7.Retrieved24 October2024.
Further reading
edit- 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.ISBN9780733615283.
External links
edit- Governor General of Australia – Official biography of Sir William Deane and Lady DeaneArchived1 April 2015 at theWayback 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 biographyRetrieved 20 August 2014.