Sir Ronald Wilson | |
|---|---|
| 28th Justice of the High Court of Australia | |
| In office 21 May 1979 – 13 February 1989 | |
| Nominated by | Malcolm Fraser |
| Preceded by | Sir Kenneth Jacobs |
| Succeeded by | Michael McHugh |
| President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission | |
| In office 1990–1997 | |
| Preceded by | Marcus Einfeld |
| Succeeded by | Alice Tay |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ronald Darling Wilson 23 August 1922 Geraldton, Western Australia |
| Died | 15 July 2005 (aged 82) Perth, Western Australia |
| Spouse | Lady Leila Wilson (née Smith) |
| Children | 3 sons; 2 daughters[1] |
| Alma mater | University of Western Australia University of Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Judge and social activist |
| Profession | Jurist and lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Rank | Flying Officer[2] |
| Battles/wars | World 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.