MCDONALD, Allan William AO (1937-2017)

Modified on Wed, 22 Nov 2017 15:01 by Con — Categorized as: Biography - All, Biography - Collegians in the News 1911-1960, Biography - OGCA Gallery of Notable Old Collegians, Biography - Students, Geelong College, Biography of Law, Medicine, Medical Research and Academia

MCDONALD, Hon Justice Allan William AO (1937-2017

Hon Justice Alan McDonald

Hon Justice Alan McDonald


Hon Justice Alan McDonald, Supreme Court Judge from 1988 to 2002, entered the Preparatory School in 1942 at the age of five under the care of Miss Hamer. Twelve years later in 1954 he finished his matriculation year and left school. In his last year he stroked the 1st Rowing VIII, was a member of the 1st XVIII and won the Geelong College Cup for Athletics. He had been a member of the Athletics Team from 1951 to 1954 and the Relay Team from 1951 to 1952. He was also a cadet under-officer. At Speech Day he was awarded the Gus Kearney Memorial Prize.

In 1955, he entered Ormond College, Melbourne University and graduated in law at the end of 1958. After serving his articles and working for a year as a solicitor he signed the Bar Roll on 27 April 1960, reading in the Chambers of former Collegian, W C Crockett. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1977 and on 29 May, 1988, appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria. While a barrister he was involved in a number of activities. He was the Chairman (1962-1976) and then President (1976-1978) of the Victorian Amateur Athletics Association and President of the Australian Athletics Union (1978-1983) and was awarded an Australian Sports Medal in 2000.

Between 1991 and 2002 he chaired the Deakin University Law School Adevisory Board and assisted in the development of the Universlity's LLB degree program.In 2004, Deakin University bestowed an Honorary Doctorate of Laws for service to the law, to Deakin University and the community.

He served for some twelve years as a member of Lauriston Girls' School Council and was also a member of the Youth Council of Victoria. On 29 June 1962, he married Margaret nee Turner.

In the Australia Day Honours of January 2011 he was awarded AO 'for distinguished service to the law and to the judiciary, particularly the implementation of mediation initiatives and administrative reforms, and as a mentor, to medical research ethics, and to a range of sporting organisations.'

He was inducted into the Old Geelong Collegians' Association (OGCA) Gallery of Notable Collegians.

His father Allan Elliott McDonald (1903-1957), a solicitor and parliamentarian also attended the College from 1918 to 1921.

Justice McDonald, born on 3 March 1937, age 80 years, died on 15 June 2017.

Hon. Alan William McDonald AO was inducted into the Old Geelong Collegians' Association (OGCA) Notables Gallery at Geelong College in 2011.


Sources: Ad Astra April 1992 p16; The Age (Melb) 17 June 2017. OGC 1950.