Austin Asche
Encyclopedia
Keith John Austin Asche, AC
, QC
(born 28 November 1925) is a former Administrator of the Northern Territory
and was the third Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
.
, the son of Eric Thomas Asche and Beryl Victoria Asche (née Woinarski). Eric was the brother of the actor Oscar Asche
. The family relocated to Darwin
in 1926. E T Asche was one of a small number of lawyers in Darwin at that time and held the position of Crown Law Officer.
He attended Darwin Primary School before returning to Melbourne in 1938 and attending Melbourne Grammar. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force
in 1944 and served until 1946. Upon discharge he attended the University of Melbourne
and attained a Bachelor of Arts
and a Master of Laws
degree. He was admitted to practice on 1 February 1950.
He married Valerie James on 11 April 1958 and they have one son and one daughter.
and was admitted to practice there in February 1951. Upon returning to Melbourne in 1954 he practised at the Bar until 1975, eventually being appointed as a Queen's Counsel
in 1972. He was a part-time lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
from 1968 to 1975.
In 1976 he was appointed as the first Victorian Judge of the new formed Family Court of Australia
. He was a member of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Council from 1974–1976, its Vice President from 1977–1981 and President from 1981 - 1983. He was Chancellor
of Deakin University
from 1983 - 1987 Acting Chief Judge of the Family Court from 1985 - 1986. He was also a member of the Family Law Council from 1976–1979, Chairman of the Inquiry into Teacher Education in Victoria in 1979 and 1980 and a Councillor and later Chairman of the Frankston State College from 1973 - 1979.
on 14 April 1986 and was appointed as Chief Justice
on 17 August 1987 following the retirement of Kevin O'Leary. While Chief Justice he was Chair of the Northern Territory Parole Board and was President of the Northern Territory Division of the Red Cross Society and President of the Northern Territory Branch of the Scout Association. He was also Chancellor of Northern Territory University
from 1989 - 1993.
He resigned as Chief Justice on 26 February 1993 to take up appointment as Administrator of the Northern Territory
. While Administrator he was patron of numerous organisations including being the Northern Territory Chief Scout, an Honorary Colonel in NORFORCE, and a Deputy Prior of the Order of St. John
.
He retired in 1997 but is still the Chair of the Northern Territory Law Reform Committee and is an Adjunct Professor in Law at the Charles Darwin University.
in 1994. He was also awarded Honorary Doctorates from both Deakin University and Charles Darwin University.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born 28 November 1925) is a former Administrator of the Northern Territory
Administrator of the Northern Territory
The Administrator of the Northern Territory is an official appointed by the Governor-General of Australia to exercise powers analogous to that of a state governor...
and was the third Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the Northern Territory
The title of Chief Justice of the Northern Territory refers to the highest judicial position in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. The position is currently held by Trevor Riley.-History of the Chief Justice of the Northern Territory:...
of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory is the superior court for the Australian Territory of the Northern Territory. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the territory in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters...
.
Early years, education and family
Asche was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, the son of Eric Thomas Asche and Beryl Victoria Asche (née Woinarski). Eric was the brother of the actor Oscar Asche
Oscar Asche
John Stange Heiss Oscar Asche , better known as Oscar Asche, was an Australian actor, director and writer, best known for having written, directed, and acted in the record-breaking musical Chu Chin Chow, both on stage and film, and for acting in, directing, or producing many Shakespeare plays and...
. The family relocated to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
in 1926. E T Asche was one of a small number of lawyers in Darwin at that time and held the position of Crown Law Officer.
He attended Darwin Primary School before returning to Melbourne in 1938 and attending Melbourne Grammar. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
in 1944 and served until 1946. Upon discharge he attended the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
and attained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and a Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
degree. He was admitted to practice on 1 February 1950.
He married Valerie James on 11 April 1958 and they have one son and one daughter.
The Victorian Bar and early judicial office
He relocated to BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and was admitted to practice there in February 1951. Upon returning to Melbourne in 1954 he practised at the Bar until 1975, eventually being appointed as a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1972. He was a part-time lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
from 1968 to 1975.
In 1976 he was appointed as the first Victorian Judge of the new formed Family Court of Australia
Family Court of Australia
The Family Court of Australia is a superior Australian federal court of record which deals with family law matters. Together with the Federal Magistrates Court, it covers family law matters in all states and territories of Australia except Western Australia...
. He was a member of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Council from 1974–1976, its Vice President from 1977–1981 and President from 1981 - 1983. He was Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
of Deakin University
Deakin University
Deakin University is an Australian public university with nearly 40,000 higher education students in 2010. It receives more than A$600 million in operating revenue annually, and controls more than A$1.3 billion in assets. It received more than A$35 million in research income in 2009 and had 835...
from 1983 - 1987 Acting Chief Judge of the Family Court from 1985 - 1986. He was also a member of the Family Law Council from 1976–1979, Chairman of the Inquiry into Teacher Education in Victoria in 1979 and 1980 and a Councillor and later Chairman of the Frankston State College from 1973 - 1979.
Northern Territory
He was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern TerritorySupreme Court of the Northern Territory
The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory is the superior court for the Australian Territory of the Northern Territory. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the territory in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters...
on 14 April 1986 and was appointed as Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
on 17 August 1987 following the retirement of Kevin O'Leary. While Chief Justice he was Chair of the Northern Territory Parole Board and was President of the Northern Territory Division of the Red Cross Society and President of the Northern Territory Branch of the Scout Association. He was also Chancellor of Northern Territory University
Charles Darwin University
Charles Darwin University is an Australian public university with about 20,000 students in 2007.The University offers a wide range of Higher Education degrees and Vocational Education and Training courses with flexible study options, including part-time, external and online.CDU has campuses in the...
from 1989 - 1993.
He resigned as Chief Justice on 26 February 1993 to take up appointment as Administrator of the Northern Territory
Administrator of the Northern Territory
The Administrator of the Northern Territory is an official appointed by the Governor-General of Australia to exercise powers analogous to that of a state governor...
. While Administrator he was patron of numerous organisations including being the Northern Territory Chief Scout, an Honorary Colonel in NORFORCE, and a Deputy Prior of the Order of St. John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
.
He retired in 1997 but is still the Chair of the Northern Territory Law Reform Committee and is an Adjunct Professor in Law at the Charles Darwin University.
Honours and awards
He was appointed a Knight of the Order of St. John in 1993 and made a Companion of the Order of AustraliaOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1994. He was also awarded Honorary Doctorates from both Deakin University and Charles Darwin University.