Margaret Ann Clare Robinson, née Colquhoun, was born in 1943 and spent most of her professional life in South Australia. Following her marriage, she moved to South Australia in 1971. In Adelaide, she and her husband, an agricultural scientist, raised two daughters. She combined family life with an active legal career and was known publicly as Ann Robinson.
Robinson studied law at the University of Melbourne and completed an LLB in 1967. Her legal education formed the foundation for a career that progressed from private practice to senior judicial office in South Australia and the Family Court of Australia.
Robinson began her legal career with the Melbourne firm Gillott, Moir and Winneke, where she became a partner in 1970. After moving to South Australia in 1971, she practised for many years as a partner at Finlaysons in Adelaide. She later established the family-law firm Robinson & Mason with Janine Mason and became its founding partner. In 1997 she left private practice to become Chief Judge of the Youth Court of South Australia within the District Court of South Australia. She was appointed to the Family Court of Australia in 1998 and took up office as a Justice on 7 September of that year, sitting in the Adelaide Registry until her death in 2002. As a family lawyer, she was noted for negotiating custody litigation in ways that served the interests of both children and parents.
Robinson participated in a range of public, cultural, charitable, and judicial organizations. She chaired South Australia's Classification of Publications Board from 1980 to 1986 and served on the Gaming Supervisory Authority from 1995 to 1997 and the Board of Child and Youth Health from 1996 to 1997. She served for five years on the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Board, belonged to the Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem, and participated actively in the Judicial Officers' Aboriginal Awareness Committee, including visits to Aboriginal lands and engagement with Aboriginal women.
Served as chair.
Classification of Publications Board of South Australia , Australia
1980 - 1986
Served as a member.
Gaming Supervisory Authority , Australia
1995 - 1997
Served as a member.
Board of Child and Youth Health , Australia
1996 - 1997
Served on the board for five years.
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Board , Australia
Was a member of the international ecumenical order.
Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem , Australia
Participated actively in the committee's work, including visits to Aboriginal lands and engagement with Aboriginal women.
Judicial Officers' Aboriginal Awareness Committee , Australia
Robinson was described as energetic and possessing a zest for life. Her professional and civic activities, together with her commitment to skiing, music, public administration, and judicial awareness work, reflected a wide-ranging and active life.
Quotes from others about the person
As a family lawyer, Robinson was noted for her skill in negotiating custody litigation for the benefit of both children and parents.
Robinson was married to an agricultural scientist, and they had two daughters. She later founded Robinson & Mason with Janine Mason, a professional partnership devoted to family law.
