Tasmania loses its Governor, Peter Underwood dies at 76

Tasmanian Governor Peter Underwood has died in the Royal Hobart Hospital a month after having a tumour removed from his kidney, at the age of 76. In a brief statement, his official secretary David Owen announced the former Supreme Court chief justice died on Monday night.

"It is with great sadness that I advise that His Excellency the Honourable Peter Underwood died last evening in the presence of his family," the statement says. "His family wish to express their deep gratitude for the care he received at the Royal Hobart Hospital and prior to that at Calvary Hospital Hobart"

Underwood is being remembered as a great legal mind and social reformer after his death. Tributes have been led by Premier Will Hodgman, who said the governor would be missed by the island state. “The family and Tasmania have lost a man with an amazing legal mind, a very sound social conscience and a sharp sense of humour,” Mr Hodgman said.

The Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott also declared “Mr Underwood spent his career serving the people of Tasmania.  He showed great commitment throughout his life and career to the administration of justice”, in a short statement issued this afternoon.

Mr Underwood was expected to make a full recovery from his operation and returned to work late last month but he suffered a setback last week and was hospitalised, before Government House advised he was gravely ill on Monday.

“His Excellency will be remembered by Government House staff as an individual of warmth, understanding, high intelligence and great moral integrity,” an official statement on the governor’s website read.

Justice David Porter has been named Administrator in Mr Underwood’s stead until July 19^th.

By Santi Ivar

Sources

http://www.theaustralian.com.au

http://www.themercury.com.au

http://www.sbs.com.au