John Dwyer

Sir John Patrick (Jack) Dwyer KCMG (24 June 1879 – 25 August 1966) was a native of Aberfeldy, Victoria who became Chief Justice and Lieutenant Governor of the State of Western Australia from 1945 to 1959.

Early life Dwyer was born on 24 June 1879 at Aberfeldy, Victoria, the elder son of Thomas Dwyer (b.1842 in Tipperary, Ireland) and Elizabeth Donaldson (b. 1855 in Melbourne, Australia). In Aberfeldy, the children were orphaned when their mother died in September 1884 and their father died just over a year later, in December 1885. Both parents are buried in the Aberfeldy Cemetery. Dwyer and his younger brother and sister were taken in by their mother's Scottish parents, David and Annie Donaldson, in nearby Morwell.

Seeing his academic achievements at the Morwell primary school, his grandmother enrolled him at Geelong College in 1890, where he excelled at cricket and football in addition to his academic work. Dwyer graduated as dux of the school in 1893, aged 14.

In 1894 he attended the University of Melbourne gaining a law degree, and became an articled clerk in 1897. but relocated to Western Australia in 1904 following an offer of employment with Fremantle barrister (and MP) Matthew Moss. He was admitted to the Western Australian Bar in the same year.

Retirement Dwyer retired from the Court on 28 February 1959 at the age of 79. He continued his support and active involvement in the cultural and sporting life of his community. he was buried with his wife, in the Karrakatta Cemetery. Many of his personal papers and photographs were donated to the Old Court House Law Museumn in Perth by Caroline ELizabeth Pummer, a journalist and Dwyer's wife's niece.