Edward Woodward (jurist)
Encyclopedia
Sir Albert Edward Woodward, AC, OBE (6 August 192815 April 2010) was an Australia
n jurist.
(later as Lieutenant General Sir Eric Woodward, the longest-serving Governor of New South Wales) and Amy Freame Weller. After completing both his primary and secondary education at the prestigious Melbourne Grammar School
, Woodward continued his studies at the University of Melbourne
, where he graduated with a Master of Laws. He was admitted to the Bar in 1951 and was appointed a Queen's Counsel
in 1965. During his career, he sat on several boards and 17 Royal Commission
s, of which he was the Chairman for four. He was President of the Trade Practices Tribunal (1974-6) and a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia
(1977–90).
As Director-General of Security between 1976 and 1981, he headed the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
.
He was a member of Camberwell Grammar School
Council between 1972–1987 and Chairman in 1987. He was made a Life Governor of the school in 2002.
Woodward was appointed as a Federal Court Judge until 1990 when he became Chancellor
of the University of Melbourne
, a post he held until 2001.
He died on 15 April 2010, aged 81.
in 1982 and Companion of the Order of Australia
in 2001. He declined the governorship of Victoria on the grounds that he did not think it was appropriate for an atheist
to hold the position.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n jurist.
Biography
Edward Woodward was born in Ballarat in 1928 to Eric WoodwardEric Woodward
Lieutenant General Sir Eric Winslow Woodward KCMG, KCVO, CB, CBE, DSO was an Australian military officer and Viceroy...
(later as Lieutenant General Sir Eric Woodward, the longest-serving Governor of New South Wales) and Amy Freame Weller. After completing both his primary and secondary education at the prestigious Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, located in South Yarra and Caulfield, suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, Woodward continued his studies at 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...
, where he graduated with a Master of Laws. He was admitted to the Bar in 1951 and was appointed 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 1965. During his career, he sat on several boards and 17 Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
s, of which he was the Chairman for four. He was President of the Trade Practices Tribunal (1974-6) and a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law , along with some summary criminal matters. Cases are heard at first instance by single Judges...
(1977–90).
As Director-General of Security between 1976 and 1981, he headed the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
.
He was a member of Camberwell Grammar School
Camberwell Grammar School
Camberwell Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day school for boys, located in Canterbury, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
Council between 1972–1987 and Chairman in 1987. He was made a Life Governor of the school in 2002.
Woodward was appointed as a Federal Court Judge until 1990 when he became 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 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...
, a post he held until 2001.
He died on 15 April 2010, aged 81.
Honours
He was made a Knight BachelorKnight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1982 and Companion of the Order of Australia
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"...
in 2001. He declined the governorship of Victoria on the grounds that he did not think it was appropriate for an atheist
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
to hold the position.
External links
- Obituary: Judge sought social justice for all The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 April 2010.