Obituary & Service - The Honourable Allan McDonald AO, QC

Allan McDonald was educated at The Geelong College and at Ormond College within the University of Melbourne. He was an outstanding Athlete – he played football; he rowed; and he set a record in the 100 yards dash of 9.9 seconds. He later served as Chairman of the Council of the Victorian Amateur Athletics Association; and as President of the Australian Athletics Union.  He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal.  He was a Life Governor of Athletics Australia; a Life Member of Athletics Victoria; and a Patron and Life Member of the Melbourne University Athletics Club.

He served Articles with The Honourable Vernon Wilcox (sometime Victorian Attorney-General) and read with William Crockett (later Supreme Court Judge). He had a wide practice: Common Law; Commercial; Divorce; and Royal Commissions. He had 5 Readers. He served on Bar and Court Committees from early days. He took Silk in 1977 and served on the Bar Council and its Executive Committee.

He served with distinction as a Judge of the Supreme Court for more than 14 years in all jurisdictions of the Court. He headed the Commercial & Equity Division.

It has been said that without his work as Advisory Panel Chairperson, and with the Founding Dean, there would not have been a Law School at Deakin University.

In retirement, he was a Member of the Melbourne Health Human Research Ethics Committee; Chairman of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health; a Member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport; and Vice-President of the MCC.

A Funeral Service to Celebrate his Life will be held at the Wesley Uniting Church, 100 Yarra Street, Geelong on Tuesday 27 June 2017 at 2 pm.