William Deane

Sir William Patrick Deane (born 4 January 1931) is an Australian lawyer and judge. He served as the 22nd Governor-General of Australia, in office from 1996 to 2001. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1977, and later that year was also appointed to the Federal Court of Australia. He was a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1982 to 1995.

Deane had a low profile during his five-year term, having no major constitutional issues, but did become notice by the global scale by officially opening the 2000 Summer Olympics.PM agrees to allow GG to open the Olympics, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 11 November 1999Howard explains Olympics backflip, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 11 November 1999

Deane was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) on 10 August 1982, a few weeks after being appointed to the High Court.

References

Other websites
 Governor General of Australia – Official biography of Sir William Deane and Lady Deane , published by Government House, Canberra.
 A Mirror to the People, documentary film on the Office of Governor-General of Australia (1999), featuring Deane, Zelman Cowen and Ninian Stephen.
 High Court biography Retrieved 20 August 2014.

Category:1931 births
Category:Living people
Category:Governors-general of Australia
Category:Australian judges
Category:Politicians from Melbourne