Ronald Wilson

Sir Ronald Wilson
28th Justice of the High Court of Australia
In office
21 May 1979 – 13 February 1989
Nominated byMalcolm Fraser
Preceded bySir Kenneth Jacobs
Succeeded byMichael McHugh
President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
In office
1990–1997
Preceded byMarcus Einfeld
Succeeded byAlice Tay
Personal details
Born
Ronald Darling Wilson

(1922-08-23)23 August 1922
Geraldton, Western Australia
Died15 July 2005(2005-07-15) (aged 82)
Perth, Western Australia
SpouseLady Leila Wilson (née Smith)
Children3 sons; 2 daughters[1]
Alma materUniversity of Western Australia
University of Pennsylvania
OccupationJudge and social activist
ProfessionJurist and lawyer
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceRoyal Australian Air Force
RankFlying Officer[2]
Battles/warsWorld War II[2]

Sir Ronald Darling Wilson, AC, KBE, CMG, QC (23 August 1922 – 15 July 2005[3]) was a distinguished Australian lawyer, judge and social activist serving on the High Court of Australia between 1979 and 1989 and as the President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission between 1990 and 1997.

Wilson is probably best known as the co-author with Mick Dodson of the 1997 Bringing Them Home report into the Stolen Generation which led to the creation of a National Sorry Day and a walk for reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2000 with an estimated 250,000–300,000 people participating. Wilson was also one of three judges sitting on The WA Inc Royal Commission in the early 1990s which eventually led to former Premier Brian Burke being jailed in March 1997.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference munro was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference corrected was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Tributes paid to 'visionary' Sir Ronald Wilson". Australia: ABC News. 17 July 2005. Retrieved 7 July 2013.