Vale — Rear Admiral the Honourable Alwynne Rowlands AO RFD RD

Alwynne Rowlands made an outstanding contribution to the law, the Australian Defence Force and to the community. He was a generous mentor to numerous lawyers both ADF and civilian.

RADM Rowlands joined the RAN Reserve as a Midshipman (Supply and Secretariat Branch) in 1956. After transferring to the Legal Branch in 1972, he made a significant contribution in establishing the Melbourne Navy Legal Panel. He was promoted to Commodore and appointed as Judge Marshal of the Royal Australian Navy in 1987. He was appointed Deputy Judge Advocate-General and served in this position from 1989 - 1992. RADM Rowlands’s distinguished military legal career culminated with his appointment as Judge Advocate General on promotion to Rear Admiral in May 1992. He relinquished the position in 1996.

After graduating from the University of Melbourne (LL B) in 1962, RADM Rowlands was admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1963. His legal career included appointment as a Queen’s Counsel in 1982, Judge of the County Court of Victoria in 1983, Presidential Member of the Federal Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and a Judge of the Family Court of Australia in 1988. He was appointed as Judge Administrator of the Family Court of Australia in 1989 until retiring in 2005.

RADM Rowlands was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 1994 "for distinguished service and exceptional performance of duty to the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Defence Force, particularly as the Judge Advocate General”.

The County Court have honoured RADM Rowlands by publishing the following tribute:

 “It is only against the contemporary background that the enormous contribution he made during a lifetime of service can truly be appreciated. He weathered the amalgamation of the three Services into a functional operational Australian Defence Force.  Likewise, the re-education of all its members brought about by the increase in membership of women. All this while pursuing a career outside the Service.  His contemporaries still remember him for his endearing trait, an overriding sense of humanity.”