Barbara Holborow
(Unknown - 2012)

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General Details

Name:	Ms Barbara Holborow
Gender:	Female
Lived:	Unknown - Wednesday, 23 May 2012

My Story

Your're now at peace sweet Magistrate extraordonaire
So many children you saved because of your care
I bet in Heaven you'll have stories to share
Please give hugs from me to the children already there.

Born in 1930 Ms Holborow, who was also known as "the kids' champion", served with the NSW Children's Court for 12 years. She fought for judicial reform - including free legal aid for children, a care court specifically for cases of neglect, and a separate jail for first-time offenders aged between 18 and 25. But her work for children did not end with Ms Holborow's retirement from the court in 1994.

NSW Senior Australian of the Year 2012 Barbara Holborow OAM.

Children's champion Barbara Holborow’s philosophy was that ‘every child is everybody’s responsibility.’ The retired Children’s Court magistrate was a tireless champion for better judicial outcomes for children. Living with diabetes since she was 13, Barbara fought the odds as a single mother to establish a career for herself as a lawyer, working during the day and studying at night first for her Leaving Certificate, and then for her law degree, graduating at the age of 40. As a magistrate, Barbara was instrumental in setting up free legal aid for children in NSW, a care court to deal with cases of neglect, and a special jail for first-time offenders aged 18 to 25. She allowed television cameras into her court, believing that an open and transparent process would help reform the system. Since her retirement from the bench in 1994 she continued to defend the rights of children. Over the years, many foster children have come under her care and while working at a refuge she met a young Aboriginal boy named Jacob who she later adopted. She has written three books on her experiences with children and, up until her death at the age of 81, continued her fearless crusading, lobbying government and garnering media attention.