I appointed Mary Gaudron to the High Court of Australia because I knew her to have a keen mind and a good heart: two very important attributes for a judge. Robert J. Hawke, Prime Minister of Australia 1983-1991
Great courts need formal, predictable and unerringly polite judges with quiet voices and serene personalities. But to fulfil their true greatness, they also need lateral thinkers, people with unusual backgrounds who can be noisy, with fiery tempers and occasional minds and tongues to match. It will be a while before there is another judge in Australias apex court quite like Mary Gaudron. The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG
In 1987 Mary Gaudron became the first female justice of the High Court of Australia. In fact, this brilliant, brash and outspoken lawyer had a lot of firsts. A passionate advocate of human rights, her working-class background and the racism she observed as a child growing up in a country town were indelible influences on her career. With an effusive Foreword by The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG, From Moree to Mabo investigates Gaudrons contributions to our history and law, and it paints a compelling portrait of this dynamic woman and her unflinching commitment to improving the lives of all Australians.
The author speaks about her book on ABC TV
