Sir James Gobbo sadly passed away in the small hours of Sunday morning on November 7, leaving a deep void in the Italian community.
Sir James’ profile has appeared in English-speaking media numerous times – this very newspaper included – but on this sad occasion, it seems appropriate to capture it once more.
A champion of multiculturalism, the former Supreme Court judge and Governor of Victoria came from a migrant Italian family.
He personally experienced the migration process twice; he was seven years old when he returned to Australia for the second time.
Antonio Gobbo, Sir James’ father, migrated to Argentina at the age of 15 before returning to Italy to serve in the Italian Army during WWI.
Before Antonio migrated to Australia in 1927, he came back to Argentina and went on to Brazil.
He married Regina, Sir James’ mother, in their hometown of Cittadella, but like many other Italian migrants, arrived in Australia alone, where he was first employed as a terrazzo worker.
Regina and their eldest son Flavio joined Antonio in Melbourne in 1928.
Sir James was born at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Carlton on March 22, 1931.
The Great Depression saw Giacomo Agostino – later anglicised to James Augustine – and his family return to Cittadella, in the province of Padua, in 1934, where they opened a tavern and welcomed their third child, Natalina.
The family relocated to Melbourne in 1938, and young Giacomo – who did not speak English – began school.
As is the custom in Italy, on his first day, he attended school with a smock and a bow – an action that saw him marginalised for the first time in his life.
Despite this initial unpleasant experience, Sir James continued his studies at St Joseph’s College and Xavier College – a breeding ground for prominent Australians – under the guidance of Father Modotti.
He finished high school in 1948 and enrolled at the University of Melbourne, where he graduated with honours in 1951.
Sir James was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship in 1952 and travelled to Oxford University to complete his studies.
He became the captain of the rowing team, a role which saw him win the 100th regatta against Oxford’s age-old rival, the University of Cambridge.
He completed a Literature degree in 1955, and a Law degree a year later.
In his memoir Something to Declare, in between recollections of a happy childhood split between Melbourne and Cittadella, Sir James spoke of his parents, who ran the St Kilda Grill Rooms restaurant in North Melbourne, opposite the Queen Victoria Market.
“There were two rooms in the restaurant,” Sir James said in a prior interview with this newspaper.
“In the first, steak and eggs were served to Australian customers, and in the second, pasta was served to Italian greengrocers.”
Legend has it that the Gobbo family, upon their return to Australia, brought with them a Cimbali coffee machine, which Sir James always maintained was the first coffee machine on the continent.
In 1957, when Sir James had left Oxford, he married Shirley Lewis, a librarian, with whom he had five children.
That same year, he transitioned from his role as a solicitor to become a barrister in the higher judicial courts.
In 1971, he became a Queen’s Counsel, while simultaneously teaching courses in civil and criminal judicial procedure at the University of Melbourne.
In 1978, on the advice of the State government, he became a judge for the Supreme Court of Victoria – a position he retired from in 1994.
During this time, in 1982, Sir James was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 1982 New Year Honours.
In addition to the ‘honoris causa’ Law doctorate he received from the Monash University of Melbourne in 1955, he was also awarded the Commendatorate of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1973, and was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1993.
In 1994, he became the Chair of the Banking Industry Ombudsman Council and held a directorship on the board of Coles Myer.
In 1995, he was appointed Deputy Governor of Victoria, and two years later, on the advice of the then Premier Jeff Kennett, Queen Elizabeth appointed him Governor of Victoria.
Sir James remained in office for only three years, after which time Premier Steve Bracks asked him to oversee the relations between Victoria and Italy.
Sir James held numerous official positions throughout his lifetime, at both State and Federal levels, but his commitment to promoting multiculturalism was unwavering.
He produced many academic publications in both English and Italian on the subjects of law and multiculturalism, and took part in many social and cultural activities in an effort to improve the welfare of migrant Australians.
While many civic, religious, welfare, cultural and professional organisations were graced with his presence on their boards or as a consultant, among his most important offices was his time as president of CO.AS.IT. in Melbourne.
He remained a patron and president emeritus of CO.AS.IT. and the Italian Historical Society – of which he was also a founder – until his death.
Sir James was the emeritus chairman of the Australian Multicultural Foundation and instrumental in the foundation of the Palladio Foundation, which is now known as the International Specialised Skills Institute.
He was essential to the opening of the Assisi Centre, and was involved with a range of councils and task forces, such as: the Council of the Order of Australia, the Australian Council of Population and Immigration, the Multicultural Task Force for the Bicentennial of Australia and the Australian Council for Multicultural Affairs – which he also founded.
Sir James recalled a treasured piece of advice that he received from a Supreme Court judge at the beginning of his extraordinary career: “If you really want to be useful to the Italian community, leave the advocacy to others and focus on the judiciary”.
At the Italian Museum of Carlton and the headquarters of CO.AS.IT. in 2016, when the Honourable Vincenzo Amendola – then Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs (second from left) visited. He was joined by Senator Francesco Giacobbe (left), Marco Fedi, former Member of the Italian Parliament, President Emeritus of CO.AS.IT. Sir James Gobbo, and the then CEO of CO.AS.IT. Giancarlo Martini-Piovano
Sir James never failed to pay homage to the courage of his parents, seeking to improve the lives of successive generations of Italian migrants through policy changes.
As a young lawyer, Sir James fought for the defence and wellbeing of Italian communities in Australia.
Staying true to his convictions, he resisted the urge to run for parliament, ignoring the pressure from one of his admirers, the late Labour leader Arthur Calwell.
The Italians of Australia have always been able to count on Sir James to represent their best interests, in ways that have been more useful and appreciated than those of an average partisan politician.
He always encouraged new generations to see the value of their cultural heritage, repeatedly stating “if you don’t know who you are and where you come from, it’s impossible to contribute to the society in which you live”.
This was no empty rhetoric for Sir James – he practised what he preached, even as a young man at Melbourne University, where – together with other graduates from Melbourne University – he founded the Immigration Reform Group in 1959, with the aim of abolishing the White Australia Policy.
With the help of CO.AS.IT., he lobbied the government to include the teaching of Italian in primary schools, and expanded the organisation’s purview to include home assistance for elderly and infirm Italians in Melbourne.
Over the course of his remarkable life, Sir James has become a figure for the history books – not just in the annals of the Italian community – but for the entirety of this nation’s multicultural society.
Tributes for Sir James Gobbo have been offered by prominent persons around the world.
Here is what they had to say.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Sir James Gobbo was the quintessential Australian success story.
The son of Italian migrants, James spoke little English during his childhood.
However, a powerful intellect and drive resulted in him being awarded a Rhodes Scholarship 70 years ago.
He went on to be a barrister, Queen’s Counsel, Judge of the Victorian Supreme Court, Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria and ultimately Governor of Victoria.
Sir James was rightly proud of his rich Italian heritage and of the multicultural nation he served. In so many ways Sir James was the father of modern multiculturalism in Australia, which stands as one of his most significant legacies.
He had a deep Catholic faith and was a recipient of the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory from The Vatican.
Sir James gave generously of his time to so many causes throughout his life including the Council for the Order of Australia, the National Library of Australia and the Australian Multicultural Foundation.
He was married to Lady Shirley for more than sixty years.
On behalf of the Australian Government, I extend my condolences to Lady Shirley and his family.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews
On behalf of the Victorian Government, I am saddened to learn of the death of former Governor of Victoria, Sir James Gobbo and offer my condolences to his family during this difficult time.
Sir James Gobbo led a life of service – as Governor of Victoria, Lieutenant Governor of Victoria and a Victorian Supreme Court Judge.
Born in Melbourne to Italian parents, he was the first person from a non-English speaking background to ever be appointed a state governorship.
After graduating from the University of Melbourne, he received a Rhodes scholarship and left Oxford with a BA and MA. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1978 and was knighted in 1982 for his services to the community.
His continued contribution to the law, multicultural affairs and hospitals was recognised in 1993 when he was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia.
After retiring from the bench, he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Victoria, and Governor of Victoria in 1997. Sir James Gobbo served as the Chairman of the Council of the National Library of Australia, the Australian Multicultural Foundation, the National Advisory Commission on Ageing and served on the Council for the Order of Australia.
His family have accepted a state funeral where we can pay tribute to his legacy and contribution to the Victorian community.
President of the Veneto Region Luca Zaia
Sir James Augustine Gobbo, former judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria and Governor of Victoria, has been suddenly taken from us, leaving a great void in the Italian community of Australia.
His parents migrated from Cittadella, in the province of Padua, to Melbourne.
Sir James spent some of his childhood years in the Veneto region, and after his family’s permanent return to Melbourne, would frequently return to Cittadella during his summer holidays.
Even though his life and career led him to Australia, Sir James never forgot his bond with the Veneto region and its traditions, art and culture.
He spoke the Venetian dialect perfectly and has become an extraordinary symbol for fellow migrants from the Veneto region.
Sir James may have left the shores of Italy, but he carried the country in his heart, without renouncing the culture or traditions.
I would like to express my deep condolences to his family.
President of the Veneto Regional Council Roberto Ciambetti
Sir James Gobbo, former Supreme Court judge and governor of the state of Victoria – the first of Italian descent to assume this role in Australia –passed away suddenly.
I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the Gobbo family, his five children, Italians from the Veneto region and the wider Italian community in Australia.
Sir James’ extraordinary presence had an impact on Australian society, politics and culture.
He always had a deep love for Italy and the Veneto region, which he maintained throughout his life.
In the 1950s, when he was studying at Oxford, he returned to Cittadella for his holidays, furthering his deep ties with the Veneto culture.
He encouraged many young Veneto-Australians to participate in the prestigious courses at the Centro Internazionale di Studi di Architettura in Vicenza.
During his time as governor, I was very impressed by his desire to organise an exhibition in Melbourne dedicated to Andrea Palladio and the villas in the Veneto region, which included models from the Palladio Museum in Vicenza.
Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett
The Victorian community has lost a wonderful Australian of Italian descent.
The Victorian community owe Sir James endless thanks and appreciation for all he did for the community over his long life.
For many of us we have lost a real friend. A brilliant scholar, sportsman, jurist, public servant and Governor, but for the Italian community a very respected leader. As Chairman of CO.AS.IT. for so many years his contribution to the Italian community was extraordinary.
But it was not just CO.AS.IT. – he worked for the Italian community and other minority groups for years, bringing a greater level of tolerance to our society
Each of you who read this and the other tributes for Sir James will have your own recollections of him and his wife Shirley who together made up a formidable team, serving the State and beyond in so many ways.
I miss him as a friend, as a man with a huge intellect, a compassionate man, and a man of great humility. For all the honours his life earnt him, none did he seek.
For now, I extend Felicity and my sincere condolences to Lady Gobbo and her family.
Senator Raff Ciccone
“Many Victorians will be mourning the passing on Sir James Gobbo, former Victorian Governor and prominent member of the Italian community.”
“Sir James led a distinguished legal career, serving as a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria from 1978 to 1994.”
“After serving as Victorian Governor from 1997 to 2000, Sir James went on to become Chair of the Council of the National Library of Australia and the Council of the Order of Australia, and Chair of the Australian Multicultural Foundation.”
“In celebrating the life of Sir James Gobbo, many of us will be reminded to reflect on the important contribution of multicultural communities to the Australia we know and love today.”
Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge
Sir James Gobbo, the 25th governor of the State of Victoria, passed away at 90 years of age.
He made an incredible contribution to this nation and was a true gentleman.
He was a great advocate of our unique ability to integrate people from around the world into our one great multicultural nation.
Condolences to his family.
