The PNG Judiciary is deeply saddened at the untimely passing of the first female judge, Justice Catherine Anne Davani who was appointed to the high courts of Papua New Guinea, says Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia.
The PNG flag at the Waigani National Court house was flown at half-mast today in respect of the late judge who was serving her second term as a judge of the National and Supreme Court at the time of her death, last Friday, Nov 4.
A one-minute silence was done in Justice Panuel Mogish's court room before crime related cases were heard this morning.
Justice Davani was the first female Papua New Guinean judge appointed to the bench in 2001.
Sir Salamo on behalf of the Judiciary offered its condolence to her honour’s husband, John Davani, her children, relatives and friends in a statement today.
“She died in Brisbane last Friday 4th November 2016 while undergoing medical treatment for an illness,” the Chief Justice said.
He said the Judiciary is in the process of assisting in repatriating her body to PNG and the public will be informed of funeral arrangements.
Born in Wau, Morobe Province on June 3, 1960, the late judge was from Dorom village, Rigo district and Goilala district in the Central Province.
She is survived by her husband, John Arthur Davani who is from Northern Province and four sons.
She practiced as a lawyer since Nov 1984. She started her career with the Public Solicitors office from Nov 1984 to Jan 1987 before she went on a study break in Sydney Australia for two years.
From Jan 1989-July 1990, she worked with Namaliu and Co. Lawyers before she joined Gadens Ridgeway Lawyers in Jan 1991.
She made Senior Associate in Shepherds Lawyers in March 1994 before moving onto Blake Dawson Lawyers in Feb 2000 also as a Senior Associate.
The late Judge was also very passionate about sports, particularly soccer and was a member of the PNG Sports Federation from 1993 to March 2001.
She was involved with Soccer since 1979 when women’s soccer was first played at club level in Port Moresby. She represented PNG at three Oceania Football Confederation World Cup qualifiers, being captain of the PNG team at the 1994 and 1998 World Cup Qualifiers.
(Above is a Loop PNG file picture of Justice Davani during the Opening of the 2015 Legal Year. )
