Katherine Bourke
Encyclopedia
Katherine Louise Bourke is an Australia
n lawyer and judge. She has been a Judge of the County Court of Victoria
since December 2007.
on 5 July 1961. She is one of five children, all girls, of Dr John Bourke AM
.
Bourke was educated by the Presentation Sisters
, first at O'Neill College and then at Presentation Convent
. She was dux of her school in her final year, and finished in the top hundred students in the state. She subsequently studied Arts and Laws at the University of Melbourne
, graduating B.A and LL.B. She later completed a Master of Laws degree from UM; her thesis was Crimes Compensation.
While in secondary school Bourke played cello
in the school orchestra and in the State Catholic Schools orchestra. At UM she played competitive soccer, and was a foundation member of the University Women's Soccer Club at UM. As one result of her soccer days, she later underwent extensive knee reconstructive surgery
.
Bourke completed her Articles of Clerkship at Ford & Co, solicitors (later Nevett Ford) and subsequently worked for that firm as a solicitor and as an associate partner. She was called to the Victorian Bar in 1989, and practiced as a barrister for 18 years, principally in the common law jurisdictions of the Victorian courts, before being appointed to bench of the County Court of Victoria (2007) by the Attorney-General of Victoria, Rob Hulls
.
Bourke was appointed Chair of the Bookmakers and Bookmakers' Clerks Registration Committee in 2000. She also served on the Victorian Bar Council from 2000 to 2002.
(VRC) for many years. Her paternal uncle, David Bourke CBE
, was VRC chairman for 7 years.
Judge Bourke has been part-owner of several race horses and in July 2004 was elected to the committee of the Victoria Racing Club
, of which she remains a director.
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 lawyer and judge. She has been a Judge of the County Court of Victoria
County Court of Victoria
The County Court of Victoria was established in 1852 by the County Courts Act 1852. The court has jurisdiction in the State of Victoria, Australia...
since December 2007.
Biography
Judge Bourke 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...
on 5 July 1961. She is one of five children, all girls, of Dr John Bourke AM
AM
Am or am may refer to:* Americium, a chemical element with symbol Am* Attometre , a unit of length * A minor , a minor chord in music* am, a form of the verb to be used as a Copula...
.
Bourke was educated by the Presentation Sisters
Presentation Sisters
The Presentation Sisters, also known as the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary are an order of Roman Catholic women founded in Cork, Ireland by Nano Nagle in 1775....
, first at O'Neill College and then at Presentation Convent
Presentation College, Windsor
Presentation College is an Irish Catholic, secondary, day school for girls, located in Windsor, an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. She was dux of her school in her final year, and finished in the top hundred students in the state. She subsequently studied Arts and Laws 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...
, graduating B.A and LL.B. She later completed a Master of Laws degree from UM; her thesis was Crimes Compensation.
While in secondary school Bourke played cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
in the school orchestra and in the State Catholic Schools orchestra. At UM she played competitive soccer, and was a foundation member of the University Women's Soccer Club at UM. As one result of her soccer days, she later underwent extensive knee reconstructive surgery
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is a surgical tissue graft replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament, located in the knee, to restore its function after anterior cruciate ligament injury. The torn ligament is removed from the knee before the graft is inserted through a hole created...
.
Bourke completed her Articles of Clerkship at Ford & Co, solicitors (later Nevett Ford) and subsequently worked for that firm as a solicitor and as an associate partner. She was called to the Victorian Bar in 1989, and practiced as a barrister for 18 years, principally in the common law jurisdictions of the Victorian courts, before being appointed to bench of the County Court of Victoria (2007) by the Attorney-General of Victoria, Rob Hulls
Rob Hulls
Rob Justin Hulls has been a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 1996, representing the electorate of Niddrie. As well as previously serving as the Deputy Premier of Victoria, he was also the state Attorney-General and Minister for Racing.Rob Hulls was born in Melbourne and was...
.
Bourke was appointed Chair of the Bookmakers and Bookmakers' Clerks Registration Committee in 2000. She also served on the Victorian Bar Council from 2000 to 2002.
Horse racing interests
Bourke was born into a prominent horse-racing family. Her father was Chief Veterinary Surgeon for the Victoria Racing ClubVictoria Racing Club
The Victoria Racing Club was founded in 1864. It was formed following the disbanding of the Victoria Turf Club and the Victoria Jockey Club. A legacy passed from the Victoria Turf Club was the annual “race that stops a nation”, the Melbourne Cup, which was first contested in 1861.From its...
(VRC) for many years. Her paternal uncle, David Bourke CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, was VRC chairman for 7 years.
Judge Bourke has been part-owner of several race horses and in July 2004 was elected to the committee of the Victoria Racing Club
Victoria Racing Club
The Victoria Racing Club was founded in 1864. It was formed following the disbanding of the Victoria Turf Club and the Victoria Jockey Club. A legacy passed from the Victoria Turf Club was the annual “race that stops a nation”, the Melbourne Cup, which was first contested in 1861.From its...
, of which she remains a director.