FED:Former governor-general Zelman Cowen dies

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2011
FED:Former governor-general Zelman Cowen dies

Sir Zelman died earlier this week in his home in Melbourne's leafy suburb of Toorak
with his wife by his side, the newspaper reported.

Sworn in during 1977 and appointed to the role by Malcolm Fraser, he was considered
to be one of Australia's top lawyers and a leader within the Jewish community.

But his work in the office of the governor-general was just as memorable.

In 2006, High Court Justice Michael Kirby said Sir Zelman had restored "calm" to the
office following a sharp divide that opened in the wake of Sir John Kerr's dismissal of
Gough Whitlam as prime minister.

"His greatest service to Australia was that he used his incumbency to bring a `touch
of healing' to settle the sharp divide," Justice Kirby said back in 2006 as he launched
Sir Zelman's memoirs.

Born on October 7, 1919, in Melbourne, Sir Zelman attended the University of Melbourne
before he served in the navy in World War II.

He advised the British military on legal matters, became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford,
and returned to Australia in 1951 to take up a string of academic posts, and became a
top constitutional lawyer.

Later in life, he suffered from Parkinson's disease.

He first noticed symptoms of the disease nearly 15 years ago and was labelled Australia's
Mohammed Ali for his long and brave battle against it.

Upon news of his passing, former prime minster Malcolm Fraser told Fairfax that Sir
Zelman had "restored faith" in the governor-general's office.

Ms Gillard said he was a great Australian.

"He served his country in so many ways," she said.

"His public service touched so many, he will be sorely missed."

A date for a funeral service has not yet been confirmed.

AAP sbl/apm

KEYWORD: COWEN 2 MELBOURNE

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