Something To Declare: A Memoir

Sir James Gobbo reflects for the first time on his involvement with immigration reform and in the growth of multicultural policy in Australia.

Sir James Gobbo is an exemplar of Australia’s multicultural society. Australian-born but spending his early childhood in Italy, he returned with his family to Australia at the age of seven. In time, he would become a Rhodes Scholar, successful barrister, Judge of the Supreme Court and Governor of Victoria.

In these engaging memoirs, Sir James reflects for the first time on his involvement with immigration reform and in the growth of multicultural policy as Founding Chairman of the Australian Council of Multicultural Affairs and Chair of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, and as President of Co.As.It., the largest Italian community organisation in Australia. Alongside these achievements, the book traces Sir James’s extensive contributions to areas as diverse as artisanship training, the Australian honours system, hospital administration and philanthropy.

Shining through his account is Sir James’s profound gratitude to the people who made his journey so rewarding and gave him the chance to succeed. His unswerving belief in Australia’s capacity to go on providing newcomers with opportunities is a consistent theme of this timely and inspiring book.