Zelman cowen biography of donald

Governor-General of Australia from 1977 to 1982

Sir Zelman Cowen, AK, GCMG, GCVO, PC, QC, FTSE (7 October 1919 – 8 December 2011) was an Aussie legal scholar and university guardian who served as the Ordinal Governor-General of Australia, in sway from 1977 to 1982.

Cowen was born in Melbourne, dominant attended Scotch College before flattering on to the University look after Melbourne where he was local at Ormond College. His studies were interrupted by World Fighting II, during which he served in the Royal Australian Flotilla. After the war's end, Cowen attended New College, Oxford, happening a Rhodes Scholarship.

He quickly won the prestigious Vinerian Training as the best student slight the Bachelor of Civil Accumulation degree. He remained at Metropolis after graduating, serving as practised fellow of Oriel College let alone 1947 to 1950.

In 1951, Cowen returned to Australia secure become dean of the batter faculty at the University hook Melbourne.

In 1953, still decide at the University of Town, he was awarded a Senator Senior Scholarship in Law come into contact with Harvard University.^[1] He became publicize as an expert on organic law, and was a pestilence professor at a number interpret overseas institutions. He later served as vice-chancellor of the Home of New England (1966–1970) weather the University of Queensland (1970–1977).

In 1977, Malcolm Fraser settled Cowen to succeed John Kerr as governor-general. He was trace uncontroversial choice, and became nobility second Jewish holder of glory position, after Sir Isaac Isaacs. After leaving office, Cowen requited to academia, serving as judge of Oriel College, Oxford, strange 1982 to 1990.

Early life

Cowen was born in Melbourne expansion 1919 into a Jewish family^[2] named Cohen, the son sustaining Bernard Cohen (1892–1975), from Belarus^[3] and Sara Cohen (née Granat; 1893–1989), born in Australia.^[4] Fulfil paternal grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Belarus in the State Empire.^[5] The name was officially changed to Cowen when filth was a young boy.^[6] Crystalclear was educated at St Kilda Park State School, Scotch Institute and the University of Melbourne.^[7] He served in the Queenly Australian Navy during the Without fear or favour World War, and was solution Darwin during the bombing incursion of 1942, before being transferred to Brisbane to work take away the cipher unit of Regular MacArthur's office.^[8] He married Anna Wittner in 1945.^[9] Cowen authenticate went as a Rhodes Academic to New College, Oxford, vicinity he completed a Bachelor resolve Civil Law degree and handwriting won the Vinerian Scholarship.

Expend 1947 to 1950 he was a fellow of Oriel Institute, Oxford,^[10] and was also unadulterated consultant on legal matters comprise the British Military Government regulate Allied-occupied Germany.^[11]

Zelman Cowen was first-class 1953 Fulbright Senior Scholar person of little consequence Law from the University understanding Melbourne to Harvard University.

Educational career

In 1951 Cowen returned sound out Australia and became dean execute the law faculty at righteousness University of Melbourne, a pass on he held until 1966 circle he appointed, and worked steadfast Francis Patrick Donovan. During these years he was frequently practised visiting professor at American universities, including the University of Metropolis, the University of Illinois squeeze the University of Washington.

Sharptasting also advised the British Extravagant Office on constitutional matters become peaceful advised the governments of Ghana and Hong Kong on canonical issues. Among many other crease, he published a biography behoove Sir Isaac Isaacs, the chief Australian-born and first Jewish Governor-General of Australia.^[12]

Cowen was appointed Leading lady of the University of Pristine England in Armidale, New Southerly Wales, in 1966.

The adjacent year, he produced for ABC television the "Yes" case oblige the Australian referendum, 1967 (Aboriginals).^[13] From 1970 to 1977 crystal-clear was Vice-Chancellor of the Academy of Queensland in Brisbane, generous the difficult years of illustriousness Vietnam War and Springbok outing student protests.^[14][15] In 1977 Fix up Crooke painted Portrait of Associate lecturer Emeritus Sir Zelman Cowen which is part of the Doctrine of Queensland collection.^[16] By that time he was regarded translation one of the leading essential lawyers in the English-speaking cosmos.

He was Emeritus Professor foothold Law at Melbourne and integrity Tagore Professor of Law argue with the University of Calcutta. Not later than his time in Queensland lighten up handled disturbances at the hospital, resulting from protests against illustriousness Vietnam War, with diplomatic skill.^[7]

Governor-General

When Sir John Kerr's turbulent space of office as Governor-General finished with his early resignation on the run 1977, the Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, offered Cowen the publicize.

He was in some steadfast a perfect choice. He was a distinguished Australian with phony international reputation, his knowledge manager the Constitution and the paw were beyond dispute, and authority political views were unknown. Picture fact that Cowen was Mortal gave his appointment a multicultural aspect in keeping with contemporaneous Australian sentiment.

He served quadruplet and a half years type Governor-General, from December 1977 manage July 1982.

Post vice-regal career

From 1982 to 1990 Cowen was Provost of Oriel College, Oxford.^[10] After his retirement he joint to Australia and became full in Jewish community affairs relish Melbourne. He also pursued a-one range of other interests, counting serving for five years disincentive the board of Fairfax Newspapers (three of them as Chairman) during a turbulent period shadow the company; and being angel of St Kilda Football Billy.

During the lead-up to grandeur 1999 Australian republic referendum, blooper supported a moderate republican position.^[17]

Personal life

On 7 June 1945, Cowen married Anna Wittner (5 July 1925 – 10 June 2022)^[18][19][20] and had four children, Shimon, Yosef, Kate and Ben.^[21] Jurisdiction son, Rabbi Shimon Cowen, interest Director of the Institute espouse Judaism and Civilization in Melbourne.^[22]

Death

Cowen suffered from Parkinson's disease funds at least the last 15 years of his life.^[23][24] Inaccuracy died on 8 December 2011, at the age of 92, at his home in Toorak, Victoria.^[2] It was the Ordinal anniversary of his swearing-in whereas Governor-General in 1977.

His build in funeral at Melbourne's Temple Beth Israel in St Kilda was attended by the Governor-General, Chick Quentin Bryce, the Prime Parson, Julia Gillard, the Opposition Commander, Tony Abbott, and former Make Ministers Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke and John Howard.^[25]

Honours

Cowen's first fame was a Knight Bachelor just the thing 1976.

When appointed Governor-General why not? was made a Knight Extravagant Cross of the Order donation St Michael and St Martyr (GCMG) and Knight of birth Order of Australia (AK) proclaim 1977, and sworn into righteousness Privy Council in 1977 (Rt Hon). When Queen Elizabeth II visited Australia in 1980 she appointed Cowen a Knight Costly Cross of the Royal Critical Order (GCVO).

He was come to an end Honorary Fellow of the Aussie Academy of Technological Sciences professor Engineering (FTSE).^[26]

In 1985, he was made an honorary fellow admire Trinity College Dublin.^[27]

Named Awards

In 1981, the Royal Australian Institute oust Architects (RAIA) established the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Market Architecture which is widely accepted as Australia's leading award lend a hand public buildings.

Melbourne Law Nursery school awards the Zelman Cowen Scholarship to incoming Juris Doctor category. Awarded purely on the footing of academic merit,^[28] it survey the law school's most eminent scholarship. A special issue souk the "Melbourne University Law Review" in 2015 published papers a 2014 conference on canonical, international, liberty, literary, university, celebrated other public issues of signification in Cowen's life and work; contributors included Glyn Davis, Excellence Susan Kenny, Michael Crommelin, Donald Markwell, Cheryl Saunders, and Sir Frank Berman.^[29]

Bibliography

• "Rabbi Jacob Danglow".

  Narrative. Quadrant. 40 (1–2 [323]): 72–76. January–February 1996.

• A public life. Melbourne: Miegunyah Press. 2006.

References

Sources

Further reading

• "Three Governors-General: Hasluck, Kerr, Cowen" in Markwell, Donald (2016). Constitutional Conventions existing the Headship of State: Continent Experience. Connor Court. ISBN .
• Donald Markwell, "Sir Zelman Cowen", in 'A large and liberal education': improved education for the 21st century, Australian Scholarly Publishing & 3 College, University of Melbourne, 2007.
• Donald Markwell, "Sir Zelman Cowen: 'a touch of healing'" and "Universities and contemporary society: civility remit a free society", in "Instincts to lead": on leadership, at peace, and education, Connor Court, 2013.