James Gobbo facts for kids

Sir James Augustine Gobbo (22 March 1931 – 7 November 2021) was an important Australian legal expert. He served as the 25th Governor of Victoria from 1997 to 2000. The Governor is the King's or Queen's representative in an Australian state. It is a very important role.

Early Life and Education

James Gobbo was born in Carlton, Victoria, Australia, on 22 March 1931. His parents, Antonio and Regina, were from Italy. In 1935, his family moved back to Cittadella, Italy. His sister, Natalina, was born there.

Three years later, the family, including his brother Flavio, returned to Australia. They settled in North Melbourne, Victoria. James was seven years old and did not speak English when they came back. His father wanted him to have a Catholic education.

School Days

James went to St Mary's Primary School, West Melbourne. Later, he attended St Joseph's CBC, North Melbourne. In 1944, he was accepted into Xavier College. He was part of the Xavier College rowing team that won the 1948 Associated Public Schools Head of the River competition.

University Studies

After Xavier College, James studied law at the University of Melbourne. He lived at Newman College during this time. In 1951, he won a special scholarship called a Rhodes Scholarship. This allowed him to study at Magdalen College, which is part of the University of Oxford in England. He earned a Master of Arts degree there.

In 1957, James Gobbo married Shirley Lewis, who used to be a librarian. They had five children together.

Legal Career

James Gobbo worked as a barrister for many years. A barrister is a lawyer who argues cases in court. He later became a Queen's Counsel, which is a senior and highly respected lawyer.

In 1978, he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria. He served as a judge until he retired in 1994.

Governor of Victoria

In 1995, James Gobbo became the Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria. This role supports the Governor. In 1997, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him as the Governor of Victoria. The Victorian premier, Jeff Kennett, advised the Queen to appoint him.

Sir James Gobbo was the first Australian state governor who had Italian heritage. This was a significant moment.

Term as Governor

Sir James Gobbo's time as Governor was shorter than the usual five years. This was because people were discussing if Australia should become a republic. If Australia had become a republic, the role of Governor would have ended.

In 2000, the new premier, Steve Bracks, announced that John Landy would be the next Governor. Sir James Gobbo was disappointed because he had hoped to serve longer. However, his original appointment letter stated that any extension would be decided by the premier at the time.

After leaving the Governor's office, Sir James Gobbo continued to serve the community. He worked as a Commissioner for Italy for the Victorian government until 2006. He also served on various important boards and councils.

In 2006, he was the Chair of the Council of the National Library of Australia. He also chaired the Council of the Order of Australia and the Australian Multicultural Foundation.

Achievements and Awards

Sir James Gobbo received many honours for his service.

• In 1982, he was made a Knight Bachelor. This means he could use the title "Sir."
• In 1993, he became a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). This is one of Australia's highest awards.
• In 1997, he was made a Knight of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
• He received the Centenary Medal in 2001.
• He was also a Knight of Malta.

Death

Sir James Gobbo passed away on 7 November 2021. He was 90 years old.

See also

• Judiciary of Australia
• List of Judges of the Supreme Court of Victoria
• Victorian Bar Association