Linda Dessau facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Linda Dessau AC CVO
Dessau in 2019
29th Governor of Victoria
In office 1 July 2015 – 30 June 2023
Monarch	Elizabeth II Charles III
Premier	Daniel Andrews
Lieutenant	Marilyn Warren (2015–2017) Ken Lay (2017–2021) James Angus (2021–2023)
Preceded by	Alex Chernov
Succeeded by	Margaret Gardner
Personal details
Born	Linda Marion Dessau (1953-05-08) 8 May 1953 (age 72) East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Spouse	Tony Howard ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	2 sons
Education	St Catherine’s School University of Melbourne
Profession	Jurist, barrister

Linda Marion Dessau is an important Australian leader. She was the 29th governor of Victoria from 2015 to 2023. This means she was the King's representative in the state of Victoria. She was the first woman and the first Jewish person to hold this important job. Before becoming governor, she was a judge in the Family Court of Australia for many years, from 1995 to 2013.

Early Life and Education

Linda Dessau was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on May 8, 1953. She was the youngest of four children. Her father, John Dessau, came to Melbourne from Poland in 1929. He started by working in factories and later became a successful businessman. Her mother, Sybil, was born in Melbourne.

When she was younger, Linda Dessau spent some time in Israel. She even lived and worked on a kibbutz, which is a special type of community farm.

Linda went to St Catherine's School, Toorak. She finished school at the age of sixteen. She then studied law at the University of Melbourne. In 1973, she graduated with a law degree, becoming the youngest law graduate from the university at that time.

Legal Career

Linda Dessau became a lawyer in 1975. She first worked at a law firm in Melbourne that focused on family law. Later, she worked as a barrister, which is a lawyer who argues cases in court, for four years.

In 1982, she moved to Hong Kong. There, she worked as a crown counsel, which is a lawyer who represents the government. She later became a senior crown counsel and handled criminal trials and appeals.

Linda Dessau returned to Australia in 1985. The next year, she became a magistrate in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria. She was in charge of the court's civil and family division. In 1995, she was appointed as a judge to the Family Court of Australia.

Community Involvement

Linda Dessau has also been very active in her community. In 2007, she joined the AFL Commission, which is the governing body for Australian Rules Football. She was only the second woman to be appointed to this commission. She is a big fan of the Essendon Football Club. In 1997, she helped start the Essendon Women's Network, which has been very active for over ten years.

She also joined the board of the Melbourne Festival, which is a big arts and culture event. She became its president in 2014. From 2013, she was a member of the Council of Trustees for the National Gallery of Victoria. She left this role in 2015 when she was announced as the new governor.

In 2022, La Trobe University gave Linda Dessau an honorary doctorate. They praised her as a "pioneer and role model for women in leadership." They recognized her work as a judge and her many community roles.

Role as Governor

Linda Dessau served as the governor of Victoria for eight years, from 2015 to 2023. This made her the longest-serving governor of Victoria since 1974.

In 2019, the premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, announced that her term would be extended. He praised her and her husband for representing Victoria's diverse community. He also noted that they made Government House, the governor's official residence, more open and welcoming.

From November 2021, Linda Dessau became the longest-serving state governor in Australia at that time. Because of this, she was often asked to act as the Administrator of the Commonwealth. This means she would step in for the governor-general of Australia when they were away.

La Trobe University also noted that as governor, she performed her duties with great skill. She worked hard in the community and helped build international connections.

Linda Dessau is one of five Jewish people who have served in a similar high-ranking role in Australia. Others include former governors-general Sir Isaac Isaacs and Sir Zelman Cowen.

During her time as governor, there were some discussions about expenses. In 2016, she personally paid back some money for lunches that had been paid for by the government.

Her term as governor ended on June 30, 2023. Margaret Gardner became the new governor. The premier thanked Linda Dessau for her "outstanding leadership and compassion" during challenging times for the state.

Personal Life

Linda Dessau is married to Anthony Howard. He is also a former judge. They got married in 1982 and have two sons.

Honours and Awards

Linda Dessau has received many honours for her service.

Orders

• 2010: She was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). This was for her work in the legal system, especially in family law, and for her community service.
• 2017: She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). This is a very high honour, given for her excellent service to the people of Victoria. It recognized her leadership in the judiciary, her work in business, and her support for charities, sports, and arts.
• 2016: She became a Dame of the Order of St John.
• 2023: She was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO).

Organisations

• 1994: She received a Churchill Fellowship. This allowed her to travel to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. She studied ways to make the court system faster.
• 2018: She was added to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women by the Victorian State government.

Appointments

• 2015–2023: She was the Colonel of the Royal Victoria Regiment.
• 2015–2023: She was the Deputy Prior of the Order of St John.

Awards

• 2022: She received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from La Trobe University.