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Formal public “oration” can be traced back to at least Classical Greece (approximately 490–322 B.C.), and the times of Aristotle.

Valenzano and Braden in “The Speaker: The Tradition and Practice of Public Speaking“ (2015) say in those days of the Greek city-states, as in modern times in the profession of law, a fundamental tenet of education was “rhetoric, which for them essentially meant the ability to speak well and persuade audiences”.

The Honourable Patrick Keane delivers the 2017 Clayton Utz Alexander Freeleagus Oration before an audience of 280 in the Banco Court, Supreme Court of Qld.

Indeed, the skill of “oration” was important enough to have its own teachers, known as “sophists”:

“The Greek democratic city-states often called for citizens to make speeches in order to discuss public policy and make cases for clients in the courts. Since no lawyers existed, people prevailed or failed in court and in the assembly purely on their ability to speak well, so some turned a profit from teaching others how to speak well.”

One of the main purposes of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association is to provide continuing legal education and the exchange of legal information.

HAL President Mal Varitimos QC said the Association had been privileged to have eminent speakers deliver Orations in past years.

To date, Orations for HAL have been delivered by the following:

• The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG – South Australia, 2017
• The Honourable Patrick Keane AC, Justice of the High Court of Australia – Queensland, 2017
• The Honourable Geoffrey Nettle, Justice of the High Court of Australia – Victoria, 2017
• The Honourable Susan Kiefel AC, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia – Queensland, 2016
• The Honourable Justice Melissa Perry – South Australia, 2016
• The Honourable Justice Kyrou – Queensland, 2015
• Mr Michael Abbott AO QC – South Australia, 2015

This year HAL proposes hosting Orations in each of the State and Territory chapters.

Current details of the Orations are:

• 16 March 2018 – Tasmanian Chapter – Sir John Demetrius Morris Oration by The Hon Chris Kourakis, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of South Australia;
• 20 August 2018 – NSW Chapter – Oration by The Hon Justice Stephen Gageler AC, High Court of Australia;
• August 2018 – SA Chapter – The John Perry Oration;
• 21 September 2018 – NT Chapter – Oration by The Hon Michael Grant, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the Northern Territory;
• 27 September 2018 – WA Chapter – Robert French AC Oration by The Hon Justice James Edelman, High Court of Australia;
• 19 October 2018 – Queensland Chapter – Alexander Freeleagus Oration by the Hon Justice Walter Sofronoff, President, Court of Appeal, Queensland;
• 31 October 2018 – Victorian Chapter – Oration by The Hon Justice Chris Maxwell AC, President, Court of Appeal, Victoria.

Attendance at earlier Orations hosted by HAL has been very positive.

Further details on these Orations will be posted on the HAL website closer to the dates, and all members are encouraged to support these events.

References

Valenzano, Joseph M. III and Braden, Stephen W., “The Speaker: The Tradition and Practice of Public Speaking” (2015). (accessed 24 Feb 2018 at http://ecommons.udayton.edu/cmm_fac_pub/16 )

The Hellenic contribution to Tasmania’s judicial and educational foundations will be highlighted in Hobart next month with an Oration honouring Tasmanian Sir John Demetrius Morris KCMG, the first Chief Justice in Australia of Hellenic origin.

The Tasmanian Chapter of Hellenic Australian Lawyers, in conjunction with the Faculty of Law, University of Tasmania, will hold this event on Friday, 16 March 2018 as part of the annual Estia Greek festival of Hobart.

Sir John (Demetrius} Morris, the first Chief Justice in Australia of Hellenic origin.

National patron of HAL, Chief Justice of South Australia the Hon. Chris Kourakis, will deliver the inaugural HAL Sir John Demetrius Morris Oration, entitled “Greek Independence and its Significance to the Development of International Law”, at the Centenary Lecture Theatre, Centenary Building, Sandy Bay Campus of University of Tasmania, from 6pm on 16 March.

Chair of the Tasmanian Chapter of HAL, Mr Con Tsamassiros, said the dedication of the Oration to Sir John was testament to his contribution to Tasmania, where the former Chief Justice’s work stretched far outside the administration of justice.

“He took on vice regal duties as Administrator from time to time, was instrumental in the establishment of educational management facilities, as well as being Chancellor of the University of Tasmania,” said Mr Tsamassiros.

The recorded Hellenic origins of Sir John stretch back to his grandfather, Christoforos Moros, born on the island of Poros in 1835 in a sea-faring family, and who braved the waves to land in Melbourne in the 1860s seeking rewards on the Victorian goldfields.

Christoforos Moros succeeded in business, ironically not as a miner, but in boat hiring on the Yarra.

He anglicised his name to Christopher Morris, and died a relatively wealthy man.  He had a number of sons, one of whom, Demetrius, referred to elsewhere as James Demetrius, became a senior public servant. Sir John was the son of James Demetrius.

Sir John was born in Melbourne in 1902 and studied at the University of Melbourne (BA 1924; LLB 1924; MA 1926).  He was admitted to the Victorian bar in 1927, but moved to Tasmania, where he was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1930.

Sir John was appointed to the bench as Acting Chief Justice in July 1939.  He was formally appointed as Chief Justice in April 1940, at 37.

The Mercury newspaper on 20 August 1941 welcomed his appointment as Chief Justice, quoting Sir John’s opening statement on being sworn in to the Supreme Court, expertly capturing his dedication to fair treatment in court:

“The duty lies upon me, by plain, unostentatious doing of every task, to publish to the world that in this Court any man can come, and, no matter what the consequences, he will get justice, without fear, favour or affection.”

Sir John had assumed a position of great responsibility, the Mercury correspondent continued, as “the guardian in Tasmania of the integrity and honour, unassailable and incorruptible, of the British judiciary”.

Tasmanian Chief Justice from 1940 to 1956, Sir John Demetrius Morris KCMG – far left – and his son, John Paul Morris AM – far right – who later went on to become Chief Magistrate of Tasmania.

Sir John had assumed a position of great responsibility, the Mercury correspondent continued, as “the guardian in Tasmania of the integrity and honour, unassailable and incorruptible, of the British judiciary”.

He was knighted in 1943 and elevated to KCMG (Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George) in 1952.

Sir John enjoyed “the respect and confidence of the legal profession”, and was known for his “natural charm and social ease”, according to his entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography (Vol 15, 2000).

“He mixed equally well with conservative families, intellectual leaders and trade union officials,” the entry continues.

Sir John served as Chief Justice until 3 July 1956, when he died at his desk, aged only 53, of a heart attack.

His legacy endures: his son, John Paul Morris AM served as Tasmania’s Chief Magistrate from 1987 to 1994, while his grandson, David Morris, is a partner in the Hobart law firm Simmons Wolfhagen, and a third generation lawyer.

Sir John’s son, John Paul, has recounted events from his father’s life in an oral history that depicts the varied and busy life of the state’s most senior judicial officer.

“After the war in particular,” John recalls, “he (Sir John) would sit in Hobart one day, travel to Launceston, sit the next day there, and then come back to Hobart.”

Clipping from the Hobart Mercury, August 1941.

Mr Morris also describes the work of his mother in establishing their home at Winmarleigh at Taroona, which remains a stately home in Hobart. There, he recalls, his parents held receptions for visiting national and international dignitaries, often on a limited budget.

“In those days there was no entertainment allowance and consequently everything had to be paid for out of my father’s pocket.”

John’s contribution to the Tasmanian community was not confined to his work as Chief Justice. He took on vice regal duties as Administrator from time to time. He was instrumental in the establishment of the State Library Board, and of the Adult Education Board, which replaced the Workers’ Educational Association.  He was the Chancellor of the University of Tasmania from 1944 until his death.

Fittingly, in 1955 at the invitation of the International Commission of Jurists, Sir John attended a conference in Athens.

“This was not long before he died, and it was fitting that he went back to the place of his ancestors,” Sir John’s son recalled.

The inaugural HAL Sir John Demetrius Morris Oration on 16 March 2018 represents an opportunity for the legal fraternity, philhellenes and those of Hellenic origin to recognise and celebrate the inestimable contributions of Sir John, his family, and the many other Australians of Greek origin to the progress and prosperity of Tasmania.

The event is generously sponsored by local firm Simmons Wolfhagen.

For more information or to register to attend contact Con Tsamassiros at ctsamassiros@bmbtas.com or call (03) 6222 9474. RSVP is 12 March 2018.

Interest continues to grow in HAL’s inaugural International Legal Conference in Rhodes later this year, with the announcement that the President of Greece will officially open the Conference on 9 July 2018.

H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos

H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos will open proceedings, while the Mayor of Rhodes, Mr Fotis Chatzidiakos, a lawyer by profession, will officially welcome speakers and delegates.

The venue for the opening and welcome will be the spectacular Bastion of the Grand Master’s Palace, Rhodes, which is within a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site being the Medieval Old Town and was the 2017 winner of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage in the Category of Conservation.

The Conference has attracted, as speakers, a number of eminent jurists and scholars, including keynote speaker Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.

Several Chief Justices and Judges of Appeal, along with other international jurists, will speak on a number of different topics, related to the Conference theme of “Contemporary Legal Issues and the Influence of Hellenism”.

President of HAL, Mal Varitimos QC, said the Association was very grateful that the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Rhodes have kindly permitted the use of the Bastion of the Grand Master’s Palace.

“The Conference will feature engaging topics for lawyers and accompanying persons, whether or not of Hellenic background, and the Conference Opening at the Bastion will be just one of many opportunities to witness amazing historical sites and cultural activities,” he said.

Bastion of the Grand Master’s Palace, Rhodes, part of the Medieval Old Town and venue for the Opening and Welcome of the HAL International Legal Conference.

“HAL is privileged to have the President of Greece and Mayor of Rhodes involved in this  Conference, and we deeply appreciate their support.”

The President of Greece, Prokopios Pavlopoulos, is the Head of State of Greece and was elected by the Hellenic Parliament.  His Excellency was born in 1950 in Kalamata, Greece.  In 1968 he was accepted at the Athens Law School from which he graduated, with distinction in 1973, before moving to Paris for postgraduate studies.  In 1974 he obtained a Master of Advanced Studies (DEA) in Public Law from the University Paris 11 and in 1977 he obtained his PhD (Doctorat d’ État) with distinction. In 1982 he started his academic career at the University of Athens Law School where he was elected Assistant Professor (1983), Associate Professor (1985) and Professor in 1989. Moreover, he taught and conducted research as a visiting Professor at Paris 11 University (1986).

Support for the Conference has been overwhelming, with registrations of delegates and accompanying persons approaching capacity.

Those interested in attending are urged to register without delay, with registrations closing in March.

Find out more information about the HAL International Legal Conference 2018 on our Conference page, including speakers, conference tours, and general information about Rhodes.

The Conference has attracted interest in the Greek media, with several reports in Greece highlighting the official opening by the President of Greece and that Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC will be the keynote speaker.

HAL wishes to thank and acknowledge the support and generosity of the following conference sponsors:

Lipman Karas (Major Sponsor)

Barbayannis Lawyers
Clayton Utz
Moore Stephens
Zaparas Lawyers

For other sponsorship opportunities available please contact Mal Varitimos QC, Conference Chair, on (07) 3008 4200 or by email at Rhodesconference@hal.asn.au