Biography of Patrick Francis Burke by Vivian Hill
Patrick Francis Burke was born of Irish parents in Launceston Tasmania in 1932. In 1935 his parents moved to Geelong. Patrick was educated at Sacred Heart College and St Joseph’s Christian Brothers College. After passing the matriculation examination in 1950 he enrolled at the Teachers College to pursue a career in education. This was not surprising. His father, during the time he was a member of the Christian Brothers Order had been a teacher. He had been sent out from Ireland to Australia but after a time here he left the Order. He met and married a girl who had also come out from Ireland.
After the matriculation results were published Patrick learnt that he had been awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship enabling him to attend a University. It paid for University fees and provided a living allowance. In his studies he had done particularly well in the study of Economics. Now that the opportunity was there he concluded that he would like to study Law/ Economics. He abandoned the prospect of a career in the Education Department and enrolled at Melbourne University in the faculties of Commerce and Law. After a half-year’s study in Commerce it was brought to his notice that his scholarship made provision for one degree only and he had to make a choice. He chose Law, being the longer course and changed over in mid-year.
In March1951 the Menzies Federal Government’s National Service Act required all males turning 19 in that year to register for compulsory military service. Along with other students, including a future High Court judge, who taught him to drive per medium of a large Army truck, Pat did his training at Puckapunyal Army camp and the Melbourne University Regiment. An ability to drive was advisable as he was put in a Transport Platoon.
While at Melbourne University Patrick was a resident of Newman College. Newman brought many benefits; college tutors, convenience to lectures and opportunities for study in a nearby library; a collegiate style of living where he could get to know students from places other than his home city and in different fields of study; friendships which have endured over the years; a place where his Catholic faith , so important to him, was part of everyday living. He graduated as Bachelor of Laws in 1954.
After serving Articles with the Melbourne city firm of Dooley & Breen he was admitted to Practice on 1stApril 1956.
Dooley & Breen had an unusual practice as it was based largely on work from the State Electricity Commission. Mr Dooley, senior, had been employed by the Commission as its legal officer from its inception and the Commission did not want to lose his expertise when he went into private practice. Patrick continued as an employee solicitor with Dooley& Breen and then with Prahran solicitor Keith O’ Donnell. He holds the principals of both firms in high respect. Keith O’Donnell’s office was located near the busy Prahran Court of Petty sessions and his work included court appearances. He was surprised on his first contested case to see the counsel opposite him in a traffic case was Colonel Vicary who had been his superior officer in the M. U. R. and the author of a standard book on Traffic law. He was even more surprised his arguments for his client prevailed despite quoted authorities otherwise.
Working in the Law brought him one of life’s lucky breaks. A few drinks on a Friday night with friends at a nearby hotel was a common form of end of the week winddown. One of the group, a law clerk, often invited him home for an evening meal at a house shared with his sister, a teacher and another lady teacher, Dawn Drummond. Pat and Dawn were married in March 1958. Six children and 45 years later they are still very happily together.
Immediately after marriage, by turning the 2 motorcars they owned into a liquid asset they travelled to Europe by ship for a holiday. Holidays and travel, by ship if feasible, have been features of their life since then. On return in 1959 Patrick commenced practice in family premises at their dwelling entered by a side entrance behind a shop at 157 Malop Street Geelong. After solo practice he accepted the opportunity in 1960 of becoming an associate and subsequently a partner of the Geelong firm, Doyle & Kerr, taking control of property and like matters. In 1983 he went back into practice on his own, incorporating the practice of another Geelong solicitor Keith Cox who had likewise relied more on property matters than litigation. He traded as Burke Cox and Co and called the new firm’s premises in Yarra Street “Newman Chambers”.
The acid test of any employer is his relationship with his staff. Pat Burke had with him a long serving, loyal and skilled staff. They valued his friendship and admired his acumen in finding quickly a simple solution to any apparently complicated problem. This intellectual ability as well as his gracious manner and quiet wit enabled him to build up his legal practice.
Although he had earlier abandoned the prospect of a teaching career he exercised a similar role in his lectures to accountancy students in Company Law and Mercantile Law in evening classes at the Gordon Institute.
In 1977 Patrick Burke was elected President of the Geelong Law Association and became a member of the Council of the Victorian Law Institute. As he had always enjoyed the social functions held by the Association he continued the traditions of dinners for visiting judges, annual Association dinners, Christmas drinks and functions for the formal Opening of the Legal Year and made sure those who attended enjoyed them as well.
Pat also continued the tradition of many Geelong Lawyers in his service to the community, serving on the Committee of the Geelong Hospital for 10 years taking the place of another Geelong Lawyer, Roy Birdsey. For 15 years he was a member of the Geelong Businessmen’s Club, being “ excluded” once he had retired from business.
As a foundation member and President of the Serra Club, Geelong, he was able to promote its aims. They included assisting Catholic priests and religous cope with the strains of their vocations. He remains a member of the St Augustine Property Advisory Committee assisting profitable realisation of its former orphanage land at Highton for use in the Christian Brothers charitable work in Australia and overseas. He was a popular and enjoyable companion in the Bush Walking group “The Ramblers” until its demise.
On 3Oth June 2001 Patrick Burke retired from practice. The firm was taken over by David Mitchell and trades as Mitchell Burke and Co. References. Interview with P. Burke June 2003 Personal recollections. What happened when. By Anthony Barker Allen & Unwin 2000.
Vivian Hill 26/6/03