Memoir
Book Details

Something to Declare

A Memoir

Sir James Gobbo

Sir James Gobbo reflects for the first time on his involvement with immigration reform and in the growth of multicultural policy in Australia.

Opinion

'In his long and varied life Sir James Gobbo has gathered many memories and amusing experiences and encounters with a rich cross-section of Australian society and he shares many of them in this relaxed and entertaining memoir.'
Robert Willson
Canberra Times
Saturday 7/8/2010

About this Title

‘A humane man, nourished by a love of history, Jim … has been a serious observer and participant in the changes which have seen Australia move from a largely Anglo-Celtic society to one which allows diverse cultures to make their contribution … Had the republic referendum succeeded in 1999, in my view James Gobbo would have made an excellent President of Australia.’
SIR ZELMAN COWEN, FORMER GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA

Sir James Gobbo is an exemplar of Australia's multicultural society. Australian-born but spending his early childhood in Italy, he returned with his family to Australia at the age of seven. In time, he would become a Rhodes Scholar, successful barrister, Judge of the Supreme Court and Governor of Victoria.

In these engaging memoirs, Sir James reflects for the first time on his involvement with immigration reform and in the growth of multicultural policy as Founding Chairman of the Australian Council of Multicultural Affairs and Chair of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, and as President of Co.As.It., the largest Italian community organisation in Australia. Alongside these achievements, the book traces Sir James's extensive contributions to areas as diverse as artisanship training, the Australian honours system, hospital administration and philanthropy.

Shining through his account is Sir James's profound gratitude to the people who made his journey so rewarding and gave him the chance to succeed. His unswerving belief in Australia's capacity to go on providing newcomers with opportunities is a consistent theme of this timely and inspiring book.

About the Author

Sir James Gobbo's parents migrated to Australia in 1938 when he was seven. He was educated in Melbourne and at Oxford University, where he was Victorian Rhodes Scholar for 1952 and President of the Oxford University Boat Club, rowing in the crew that won the 100th Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race.

After a successful career as a barrister, he was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1978. In 1997, he was appointed Governor of Victoria, the first person of non-English speaking background ever to be appointed to that office in Australia.

Sir James was honoured with a knighthood in 1982 for services to the community. He was again honoured for service to the law, multicultural affairs and hospitals by the award of Companion of the Order of Australia in 1993.

Sir James's current positions include Chairman of the Council of the National Library of Australia and Chairman of the Australian Multicultural Foundation. He is a Vice President of the Order of Malta, which is involved in the provision of home-based palliative care in Victoria through Eastern Palliative Care (EPC).

Reviews

‘‘In his long and varied life Sir James Gobbo has gathered many memories and amusing experiences and encounters with a rich cross-section of Australian society and he shares many of them in this relaxed and entertaining memoir.’’ (ROBERT WILLSON, CANBERRA TIMES, 07/08/2010) Read full review

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978-0-522-85731-3