Malcolm McCusker
Encyclopedia
Malcolm James McCusker, AO, CVO, QC
(born 6 August 1938) is an Australia
n philanthropist
and barrister
who is the current Governor of
Western Australia
.
, Western Australia
, McCusker attended Perth Modern School
and graduated from the University of Western Australia
as a Bachelor of Laws
. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel
in 1982 and made an Officer of the Order of Australia
in 2005. He was named Western Australia Citizen of the Year (Professions) in 2005, and in 2010 was Western Australia Citizen of the Year (Community Service), Philanthropist of the Year, and Western Australia’s Australian of the Year. He has also been awarded Honorary Doctorates from Edith Cowan University
and the University of Western Australia
. Speaking about his appointment, he declared his intention to donate his $422,678 salary to charities, including the Lions Eye Institute
, Salvation Army
and organisations devoted to the health of Australia's indigenous peoples.. He personally received the honour of Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
from the Queen after Her Majesty's visit to Perth in October 2011.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born 6 August 1938) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
who is the current Governor of
Governor of Western Australia
The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...
Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Life and career
Born in PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, McCusker attended Perth Modern School
Perth Modern School
Perth Modern School is an academically-selective co-educational public high school located in Subiaco, an inner city suburb of Perth, Western Australia.The school, established in 1911, now caters for students with high academic ability....
and graduated from the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
as a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1982 and made an Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 2005. He was named Western Australia Citizen of the Year (Professions) in 2005, and in 2010 was Western Australia Citizen of the Year (Community Service), Philanthropist of the Year, and Western Australia’s Australian of the Year. He has also been awarded Honorary Doctorates from Edith Cowan University
Edith Cowan University
Edith Cowan University is located in Perth, Western Australia. It was named after the first woman to be elected to an Australian Parliament, Edith Cowan, and is the only Australian university named after a woman....
and the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
. Speaking about his appointment, he declared his intention to donate his $422,678 salary to charities, including the Lions Eye Institute
Lions Eye Institute
The Lions Eye Institute in Perth, Western Australia, is the largest eye research institute in the southern hemisphere. It is a limited liability company, with not-for-profit and tax-exempt gift recipient status, overseen by a Board of Directors...
, Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
and organisations devoted to the health of Australia's indigenous peoples.. He personally received the honour of Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
from the Queen after Her Majesty's visit to Perth in October 2011.
Personal life
McCusker married Tonya Batalin in 2007, with whom he has one child, Mary. He is also stepfather to Tonya's two other children. He also has three adult children from a previous marriage.| Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | 2005 | |
 |
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) | 2011 |