William Deane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir William Deane
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Deane c. 2000
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| 22nd Governor-General of Australia | |
| In office 16 February 1996 – 29 June 2001 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 was an important Australian lawyer and judge. He was the 22nd Governor-General of Australia, serving from 1996 to 2001. Before that, he was a Justice on Australia's highest court, the High Court of Australia, from 1982 to 1995.
Sir William studied law at the University of Sydney. He also studied international law in the Netherlands. Before becoming a judge, he worked as a barrister (a type of lawyer) and taught at a university. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1977. Later that year, he also joined the Federal Court of Australia.
He became a High Court Justice in 1982. During his time on the court, he was known for his modern and fair views. He retired from the High Court in 1995. The next year, he was chosen to be the Governor-General. He had a quiet term, but he became well-known internationally when he officially opened the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
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Early Life and Education
Sir William Deane was born on 4 January 1931 in Melbourne, Australia. He was the youngest of three children. His father was a hero from World War I and later worked as a patent examiner.
His family moved to Canberra in 1933. William grew up in the suburb of Griffith. He went to St Christopher's Convent School and later to St Joseph's College in Sydney.
University Studies
William attended the University of Sydney. He earned degrees in Arts and Law. He won many scholarships and awards during his studies. He was also involved in student groups and even got a pilot's license.
In 1954, he received a special fellowship to study in Europe. He earned a diploma from The Hague Academy of International Law in 1955. After finishing his studies, he worked for the Australian government's law department. He also worked for a law firm. In 1957, he became a barrister in Sydney and taught law at a university.
Judicial Career
In 1977, Sir William Deane became a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. In the same year, he was also appointed to the Federal Court of Australia. He became the President of the Australian Trade Practices Tribunal.
High Court Justice
In June 1982, he was appointed to the High Court of Australia. This is Australia's highest court. He replaced Sir Ninian Stephen, who became the Governor-General. Sir William received a special honour, an imperial knighthood, in August 1982.
On the High Court, he was part of the judges who made a very important decision in 1992. This decision, known as the Mabo case, recognised native title for Indigenous Australians. This meant that Indigenous people could have rights to their traditional lands.
Governor-General of Australia
In August 1995, the Prime Minister, Paul Keating, announced that Elizabeth II, the Queen of Australia, had agreed to appoint Sir William Deane as Governor-General. He would take over from Bill Hayden. Sir William retired from the High Court in November 1995. He was sworn in as Governor-General on 16 February 1996. Less than a month later, a new government led by John Howard won the election.
Sir William Deane was the first Catholic Governor-General of Australia. He was known for supporting social justice. On 28 August 1996, he officially declared 3 September as Australian National Flag Day.
Supporting Australians in Times of Trouble
As Governor-General, Sir William was praised for his role in comforting Australians during sad times. He publicly mourned the victims of several tragedies. These included the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 and the 1997 Thredbo landslide in 1997. He also spoke at the funerals of many famous Australians.
His term was supposed to end on 31 December 2000. However, it was extended by six months to include the Centenary of Federation celebrations. When he left office in June 2001, he said his biggest regret was that Australia had not achieved Reconciliation by the end of the 20th century. Reconciliation is about bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians together.
Opening the Sydney Olympics
Sir William Deane officially opened the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He gave a short speech to a huge crowd of 110,000 people. The Prime Minister, John Howard, had originally planned to open the games himself. However, he changed his mind in November 1999. He decided it would be better for the Governor-General to open the games. This was to avoid any political arguments about who should open them.
Later Years and Community Work
Since leaving office, Sir William Deane has continued to help many people. He is a Patron or co-Patron of many charities. These organisations work to help disadvantaged people. Some of them include Matthew Talbot Homeless Services and Youth off the Streets. He also supports the Starlight Foundation and the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.
He is also a Patron of Reconciliation Australia. This group works towards better relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. He also supports the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association.
Sir William was also a Patron and Chair of the international aid organisation CARE Australia.
Honours and Awards
Sir William Deane has received many honours for his service. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1982. On Australia Day 1988, he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). He also holds special honours from the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great and the Venerable Order of St. John.
In 2001, Sir William was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize. He received this award for his strong support of vulnerable Australians. It also recognised his commitment to reconciliation.
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Personal Life
Sir William Deane married Helen Russell, a solicitor, on 6 January 1965. They have one son and one daughter. He is a devout Catholic and regularly attends Mass.
See also
In Spanish: William Deane para niños
