FOR PRESS 13 JANUARY 1982
APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNOR-GENERAL
It has been announced from Buckingham Palace
that The Queen, on the recommendation of Her Australian
Prime Minister, has approved the appointment of The Right
Honourab~ le Sir Ninian Stephen, KBE, QC, as Governor-General
of Australia to succeed His Excellency The Right Honourable
Sir Zelman Cowen, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KStJ, QC, whose
resignation will take effect from late in July 1982.
I warmly welcome Her Majesty's appointment of
Sir Ninian Stephen as Governor-General to succeed
Sir Zelman Cowen. Sir Ninian has had a distinguished
career in the law in Australia and is at present a
Justice of the High Court of Australia.
Sir Ninian will be sworn as Governor-General in
late July 1982, on a date to be determined.
Sir Ninian came to Australia from Britain in
1940. He completed his education in Australia and served
for five years in the Australian Military Forces. Since
then he has pursued a career in the law, being appointed
Queen's Counsel in 1967, a Judge of the Supreme Court of
Victoria in 1970 and a Justice of the High Court in 1972.
He has for many years been a Member of the
Council of International House in the University of
Melbourne and is Deputy Chancellor of that University.
Sir Ninian and Lady Stephen have a family of
five daughters; Mary, Ann, Sarah, Jane and Elizabeth.
Lady Stephen has over many years held voluntary
positions in organisations concerned with the welfare of
mothers and children, students and the Arts. She is
presently a Member of the Interim Council of the Museum of
Australia, a Member of the Board of the Melbourne Theatre
Company and a Member of the Council of Lauristo-n Girls
Scho6l, Melbourne. On behalf of the Government and people of Australia,
I extend very sincere congratulations to Sir Ninian and to
Lady Stephen.
C anb err a
BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL
The Right Honourable Sir Ninian Stephen
Born 15 June 1923 at Nettlebed, near Oxford, United
Kingdom, to Frederick and Barbara Stephen; only child.
Educated: Edinburgh Academy; St Paul's School, London;
Chillon College, Glion, Switzerland; Scotch College,
Melbourne. Arrived in Australia early 1940.
1941: Commenced Law, Melbourne University, while an
articled clerk with Arthur Robinson Co., Solicitors,
Melbourne. 1941-46: Served with the Australian Military Forces in
the Pacific and was discharged with the rank of Lieutenant
in 1946.
1946-49: Continued legal studies, graduating LLB ( Melbourne)
and completed professional qualifications.
1950-51: Practised as a solicitor with Arthur Robinson
Co., after admission as a Barrister and Solicitor of the
Supreme Court of Victoria in 1949.
1951: Commenced practice at the Victorian Bar.
1967: Appointed Queen's Counsel.
1970: Appointed Judge of the Victorian Supreme Court.
1972: Appointed Justice of the High Court.
1979: Appointed as a member of the Judicial Committee
of the Privy Council.
Married to Valery Mary Stephen 4 June 1949: five daughters;
Mary, Ann, Sarah, Jane and Elizabeth.