BURSTIN, Graeme Richard

Family Name:

Burstin

Given Names:

Graeme Richard

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

Unknown

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age/ Age Range:

Early 20s

Location:

VIC, Mount Waverly

Occupation:

Unknown

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector, Pacifism Humanist

Reason for Court Appearance:

[1]Applied for full exemption from military duties
[2] Appeal against being granted exemption from combatant duties only
[3] Second application for full exemption from military duties
[4] Appeal against dismissal of second application for full exemption from military duties

Court Name and Location:

[1] Magistrates Court, Melbourne
[2] County Court, Melbourne
[3] Magistrates Court, Melbourne
[4] County Court, Melbourne

Court Hearing Date:

[1] 19 May 1966
[2] 21 July 1966
[3] 23 January 1967
[4] 16 May 1967

Court Outcome:

[1] Granted exemption from combatant duties only
[2[ Appeal dismissed
[3] Application dismissed
[4] Granted full exemption from all military duties

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Graeme Burstin was from Victoria. He applied for full exemption from military duties. Magistrate H Bennett exempted him from combatant duties only on 19 May 1966. Graeme appealed the decision. His appeal was heard by Judge Hewitt on 21 July 1966. He was asked why he cannot distinguish between combatant and non-combatant duties. Graeme responded that his conscience does not allow him to perform non-combatant duties such cooking or enlisting in Medical Corps. He reiterated that he believes war to be a useless way of solving disputes. He personally could not kill another human being. Graeme was also asked should wounded soldiers be left to die on battlefield. The judge dismissed his appeal. Graeme made a second application for full exemption from military duties. It was heard by Magistrate Marwick who dismissed the application on 23 January 1967. In reported remarks he stated he dismissed the application because he believed, “the boy had been influenced by his parents”. Graeme’s father had been a conscientious objector during WW11.Graeme persisted and appealed the decision. Judge Nelson on 16 May 1967 upheld his appeal and granted him full exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector. Extant notes of the court hearing reveal that Graeme believed war was a crime against humanity and army service was part of that crime. He believed that any form of military service was wrong. He conceded in some instances killing may be necessary but argued that war killing is indiscriminate. Apart from the family’s influence on his pacifist beliefs he was influenced by Gandhi. His pacifism was humanist as he described himself as an agnostic in matters of religion.

Confirmatory Sources:Peacemaker, September 1966, p.3., November 1966 p.; February 1967, p.3; June/ July 1967, p.3.; Vivienne Abraham Documents, Graeme Burstin File.