Chapters | Page 17 | HELLENIC AUSTRALIAN LAWYERS

NSW: Welcome for Professor Alivizatos, speaking on “Authoritarian Democracy – Populism, Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Europe. Recent Developments from a Greek Perspective” 27 June 2017

Professor Nicos C. Alivizatos

Members of the NSW Chapter attended an event recently that perfectly matches the international vision of HAL outlined by NSW Chief Justice, the Hon. Tom Bathurst AC.

Members and guests of the NSW Chapter of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association were privileged to hear a lecture from Professor Nicos C. Alivizatos, Professor of Law at the University of Athens, speaking on “Authoritarian Democracy – Populism, Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Europe. Recent Developments from a Greek Perspective”.

As NSW Chief Justice The Honourable Tom Bathurst AC remarked in his address at the NSW Chapter launch, a core purpose of HAL is to facilitate “links and exchanges between lawyers of Greek origin and Philhellenic lawyers both in Australia and around the world, with a view to fostering friendship, trade, cultural and educational exchange”.

Professor Alivizatos’s visit and lecture added to the Hellenic community’s consistent civic contribution to Australian society, enriched by the unique experiences that people from other countries and cultures bring to our shores.

NSW Chapter Patron of HAL, The Honourable Justice Melissa Perry, Federal Court of Australia, also addressed the audience.

The NSW Chapter also, in October 2017, held a members’ event at the Hellenic Club at which they hosted delegates of Hellenic origin attending the International Bar Association conference in Sydney.

Pictures of the Event

29 June, 2017 in NSW

QLD: Chief Justice on the influence of Greek philosophy in law – 29 March 2017

The Queensland Chapter of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association was honoured on Wednesday 29 March 2017 to host a seminar where the Honourable James Allsop AO, Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, delivered a paper at the Harry Gibbs Courts of Law in Brisbane. Judges of the State and Federal Courts, representatives from the Queensland Bar Association, practitioners, academics and students were in attendance.

The event commenced with a performance by the amazing Yugambeh Youth Choir, who performed songs in the native Yugambeh language. This marked the Choir’s second performance in a court setting, following on from their highly successful concert in the Banco Court foyer of the Supreme Court of Queensland in December 2016, again hosted by the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association.

Chief Justice Allsop presented a scholarly and learned paper entitled “Rules and Values in Law: Greek Philosophy; the Limits of Text; Restitution; and Neuroscience – Anything in Common?”

Following Chief Justice Allsop’s address, the Honourable Justice Anthe Philippides, Queensland Patron of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association and Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Queensland, presented her perspectives on the role that Greek philosophy has played in shaping principles of contract and equity.

Her speech ‘Rules and Values in Law: The Influence of Greek Philosophy’ can be viewed at this link.

The Queensland Chapter of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association was launched on 30 January 2015 by then Chief Justice Robert French AC. The seminar by Chief Justice Allsop continued a series of events where addresses have also been delivered by the Honourable Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC, the Hon Chief Justice Wayne Martin AC, the Hon Chief Justice Chris Kourakis, the Hon Justice Emilios Kyrou and the Hon Yvette D’Ath, Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.

Pictures from the Event

27 February, 2017 in QLD

QLD: Christmas drinks and Yugambeh Museum fundraising event – 9 December 2016

As part of its efforts towards embracing and promoting cultural diversity within the broader community, the Queensland Chapter of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association hosted a fundraising event for the Yugambeh Museum, Language and Heritage Research Centre on December 9.

More than 250 guests attended the event in the Banco Court Foyer at the QEII Courts of Law, Brisbane.

The highlight of the evening was the performance by the Yugambeh Youth Choir, a group of Indigenous youth under the age of 25 years who sing in the Indigenous language of the Yugambeh region.

Patron of the Queensland Chapter of HAL, Chief Justice Anthe Philippides, said the event was significant because it brought indigenous language into the heart of the court.

Mal Varitimos QC, Queensland Chairperson of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association, said: “Suppression of language was not unknown to the Greeks during various periods of occupation.”

“Accordingly, the continued use and study of Indigenous language in Australia is important to Hellenic Australians, as it should be to all Australians,” Mr Varitimos said.

It is hoped that the event will demonstrate the importance of Indigenous language, and the interrelationships between language, culture and identity, whilst highlighting the broader work of the Yugambeh Museum in working to record and revitalise Australia’s first languages.

Rory O’Connor, the CEO of the Yugambeh Museum, Language and Heritage Research Centre, said: “The choir gives Indigenous youth from wide ranging backgrounds, hope and opportunity through song. Many have no training other than what the choir offers and would otherwise never have access to music.”

“Regardless of what is happening in other parts of their lives, on stage they stand united as a family and have the chance to shine.”

Accompanying the Choir and also performing on the evening was acclaimed Indigenous musician William Barton, who closed HAL’s “Embracing Diversity in the Law” seminar in June with an incredible performance.

Established in March 2014, the Choir are trained by accomplished Choirmaster and Kombumerri woman Candace Kruger.

William Barton has performed with many of the great orchestras of the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic, having been described by the conductor of that orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle, as “one of the greatest virtuosos of our time”.

Speeches

Pictures from the Event

12 December, 2016 in QLD

NSW: Launch of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association (NSW Chapter) by The Hon Chief Justice Bathurst AC – 11 November 2016

The launch of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association (NSW Chapter) was held in the Banco Court of the Supreme Court of NSW, on Friday, 11 November 2016.

The Honourable Chief Justice Tom Bathurst AC launched the NSW Chapter. The NSW Patron of HAL, The Honourable Justice Melissa Perry, Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, also spoke at the launch.

A number of distinguished interstate guests attended, including the National Patron of HAL, Chief Justice Chris Kourakis, as well as Justice Emilios Kyrou and Justice Anthe Philippides.