18 Facts About Henry Winneke

Henry Winneke's father, Henry Christian Winneke, was a judge of the County Court of Victoria.

Henry Winneke was educated at Ballarat Grammar School, Scotch College and the University of Melbourne, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1929 and a Master of Laws in 1930.

Henry Winneke was a hockey player while at university, and was awarded a University Blue as well as playing in an Australian Universities team.

Henry Winneke read as a pupil of Wilfred Fullagar, who was later a judge of the High Court of Australia.

Henry Winneke was promoted to temporary squadron leader on 12 February 1940, to wing commander on 1 October 1941, and to group captain a month later, when he was appointed Director of Personnel Services.

Henry Winneke was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1944.

Henry Winneke developed a large general practice, and was described by Sir John Young as "a very sound lawyer with a clear and penetrating mind", and a "clear and powerful advocate", Henry Winneke was appointed a Kings Counsel in 1949, Senior Counsel for the Attorney-General and Crown prosecutor in January 1950 before being appointed Solicitor-General for the State of Victoria in 1951, the first non-minister to be appointed.

Henry Winneke's appointment was the start of the transformation of Solicitors-General in Australia to a quasi-independent statutory office.

Henry Winneke told the court that Tait would be executed the following day, but the government would comply with an order of the court, if it was made.

Henry Winneke was appointed as Chief Justice of Victoria in 1964.

Henry Winneke was knighted in 1957, created a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1966, a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1977 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1982.

Henry Winneke received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Melbourne in 1978 and Monash University in 1980.

Don Chipp said that Henry Winneke had told him in 1971 that the convicted murderer Leith Ratten was innocent.

In 1981, when Ratten had yet to be released, Chipp said Henry Winneke denied the conversation had taken place.

Later a member of the Supreme Court at the time of Ratten's trial told Tom Molomby that Henry Winneke had wanted to remove the jury from the trial.

Henry Winneke was married twice, first to Nancy Wilkinson in 1933 by whom he had two sons, John and Michael.

Henry Winneke's son, John Winneke, was a judge on the Supreme Court of Victoria, being President of the Court of Appeal from its inception in 1995 until his retirement in 2005.

Henry Winneke was a keen golfer and follower of Australian Rules Football, being at one time the number one ticket holder of Hawthorn Football Club.