Barbara Holborow  Barbara Holborow ( Edmonds, 29 June 1930 – 23 May 2012) was an Australian magistrate in the New South Wales Children's Court. Holborow was born on 29 June 1930. An only child, she was diagnosed with diabetes at thirteen. Holborow became a lawyer at age 40, having completed her high school certificate and law degree while a working single mother, and was appointed as a magistrate in the New South Wales Children's Court around 1982. During her time in the court, she was nicknamed "the children's champion" and worked for a number of issues. These included a separate jail for first-time offenders aged 18 to 25, a "care court" and free legal aid for children. Holborow retired from the children's court in 1994 after 12 years and in 2012 was named New South Wales Senior Australian of the Year. She died on 23 May 2012 in her Sydney home at the age of 81.