Margaret Beazley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Beazley
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Margaret Beazley in 2018
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| 39th Governor of New South Wales | |
| Assumed office 2 May 2019 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Premier | Gladys Berejiklian Dominic Perrottet Chris Minns |
| Lieutenant | Tom Bathurst Andrew Bell |
| Preceded by | David Hurley |
| 9th President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal | |
| In office 1 March 2013 – 27 February 2019 |
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| Preceded by | James Allsop |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Bell |
| Judge of the New South Wales Court of Appeal | |
| In office 28 March 1996 – 1 March 2013 |
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| Judge of the Federal Court of Australia | |
| In office 1 January 1993 – 28 April 1996 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 July 1951 Sydney, New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 3 |
| Education | Sydney Law School |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
Margaret Joan Beazley (born 23 July 1951) is an Australian judge. She is the 39th and current governor of New South Wales. She has held this important role since May 2, 2019. Before becoming governor, she was the president of the New South Wales Court of Appeal. She was the first woman ever to hold that position.
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Early Life and Education
Margaret Beazley grew up in Hurstville, Sydney, New South Wales. She was one of five children. Her father worked as a milkman. She went to Catholic schools, including St Declan's Primary School and St Joseph's Girls High School. In 1974, she finished her law degree with high honors from the Sydney Law School at the University of Sydney.
Legal Career Highlights
Margaret Beazley started her legal career in 1975. She became a lawyer in New South Wales. In 1989, she was given the special title of Queen's Counsel. This title is given to experienced lawyers.
She worked in several important legal roles:
- From 1984 to 1988, she was a judge on the Equal Opportunity Tribunal.
- She was an Acting District Court Judge from 1990 to 1991.
- From 1991 to 1992, she helped lead the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
- She served as a judge in the Federal Court of Australia from 1993 to 1996.
- She was also a judge in the Industrial Relations Court of Australia.
From 1996 to 2019, she was a Judge of Appeal for the New South Wales Court of Appeal. She became the President of this court in 2013. She was the very first woman to hold this top position in the court. She left this role in February 2019. Margaret Beazley also worked with Amnesty International in Australia in 1980.
Governor of New South Wales
In January 2019, Margaret Beazley accepted the job of the 39th Governor of New South Wales. She took over from David Hurley. She officially became governor on May 2, 2019.
In 2020, she received a high honor. She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia. This was for her excellent service to the people of New South Wales. It recognized her leadership in the legal system and her work helping young women lawyers.
Honours and Awards
Margaret Beazley has received many awards for her service.
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Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) | 2020 |
| Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | 2006 | |
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Dame of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem | 2019 |
Honorary Appointments
She holds several special honorary positions:
2019: Honorary Colonel of the Royal New South Wales Regiment.
2019: Governor of the New South Wales Police Force.
2019: Deputy Prior of the Order of St John.
2019: Honorary Commodore, Royal Australian Navy.
2019: Honorary Air Commodore of No. 22 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force.
Honorary Degrees
She has also received special degrees from universities:
- 2008: Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) by the University of Sydney.
- 2019: Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) by the Australian Catholic University.
- 2022: Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) by The University of Notre Dame Australia.
Personal Life
Margaret Beazley is married to Dennis Wilson. She has three grown-up children from her first marriage to Alan Sullivan. She and Alan Sullivan were the first husband and wife from private law to both become Queen's Counsel.
See also
- List of judges of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
