Those Tracks on my Face

by Barbara Holborow, Cliff Neville, Janet Fife-Yeomans

No-one knows more about children in trouble than Barbara Holborow. In this best-selling book, Barbara draws on the knowledge and wisdom acquired in her many years as a Children’s Court magistrate, where she presided over the best and the worst of children, and those dealing with them. She tells the story of her own life as well, and in these pages there is a wealth of practical advice for those who want the best out of the most valuable thing in our lives – our children.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

191 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Barbara Anne Holborow OAM (née Edmonds, 29 June 1930 – 23 May 2012) was an Australian magistrate in the New South Wales Children's Court.

She completed a degree at Sydney Law School, becoming a lawyer around 1970 at the age of 40. After graduating she began her own practice, working on the side as a runner (scout) for a bookmaker until her practice was established. She was appointed as a magistrate in the New South Wales Children's Court around 1982; she later recalled that due to the rarity of her having been appointed from outside the government system, her new colleagues went on strike to protest her appointment. She was nicknamed "the children's champion" during her time in court and worked for a number of issues throughout her legal career. These included a separate jail for first-time offenders aged 18 to 25 (now known as the Parklea Correctional Centre and changed in scope), a "care court" (established in 1992 in Campsie and merged back into the children's court in 2006),and free legal aid for children, established in 1973.

Holborow retired from the children's court in 1994 after 12 years. She continued to be active in children's advocacy until her death, publishing three books, appearing on the current affairs program 60 Minutes, and writing a regular column in the magazine That's Life!.

Holborow received a Medal of the Order of Australia at the 2002 Australia Day Honours "for service to the community as a magistrate and through organisations promoting the welfare and rights of children". In 2012 she was named New South Wales Senior Australian of the Year. She appeared on the TV series This Is Your Life in 1999.[9] Barbara Holborow Park in her home suburb of Croydon Park is named in her honour.

Reviews

[Belinda Danini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome story about how the children's courts worked in Sydney Australia in the 1980's.

[Les Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Human, touching with its passion and frustration. Written like a conversation and easily read.

[Caroline Jesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an interesting insight into the world of juvenile crime and this judge's want for helping them.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book is old, I still enjoyed reading it! Barbara was a good,fair magistrate who made a change to the youth and children's courts in Australia.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holborow has seen all sorts of awful. And yet she remains sympathetic and clear-headed as she recounts her experiences in life and how they equipped her for a career behind the bench as a children's court magistrate. An affecting read.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read.

[Jen Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was a good book.She was a great judge

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting insight on what goes on behind the closed doors of the juvenile court. Well worth the read.