QLD

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

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

• Speech by The Honourable Justice A Philippides, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Queensland – ‘Why Indigenous Languages Matter’, closing address at Qld Chapter of HAL fundraiser for Yugambeh Museum – 9 December 2016
• Address by Rory O’Connor, CEO, Yugambeh Museum, at Yugambeh Museum fundraiser – 9 December 2016
• Address by Candace Kruger, Choirmaster, Yugambeh Youth Choir, at Yugambeh Museum fundraiser – 9 December 2016

Pictures from the Event

The Queensland Chapter of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association was honoured on Friday 26 August 2016 with the delivery of the 2016 Clayton Utz Alexander Christy Freeleagus Oration by the Honourable Justice Susan Kiefel AC, Justice of the High Court of Australia.

Nearly 300 members of the Queensland and interstate legal, consular and Hellenic communities attended the Oration, held in the Banco Court at the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Guests included Judges of the State and Federal Courts, representatives of all national, state and territory Bar Associations, practitioners, academics, diplomats, students and other community members.

The Freeleagus Oration was established in 2015 by the Queensland Chapter of the Association in memory of Mr Freeleagus, who was a prominent Queensland Hellenic lawyer.

Mr Freeleagus served as a partner of what is now Clayton Utz for 39 years, spending more than 20 years as Clayton Utz’s senior Queensland partner.

He was also extremely active in the broader community, serving as Consul-General for Greece for 48 years and being involved in the founding of Brisbane’s Paniyiri and also the Greek Pavilion at World Expo 88.

Ross Perrett, a partner at Clayton Utz who worked closely with Mr Freeleagus, spoke at the Oration about Mr Freeleagus’ life, career and personal attributes.

Justice Kiefel, who is renowned for Her Honour’s scholarship in Comparative Law (having won the CJ Hampson Prize in Comparative Law during Her Honour’s time at the University of Cambridge), delivered a paper entitled “Legal influences – across centuries and borders”.

The speech by Justice Kiefel was very informative, wide-ranging and fascinating.

Following Justice Kiefel’s paper, the Honourable Justice Anthe Philippides, Queensland Patron of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association and Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Queensland, closed proceedings and presented a commentary on Justice Kiefel’s paper.

Papers and Speeches from the Event

The Hon Justice Susan Kiefel AC presented “Legal Influences – across centuries and borders” as the Alexander Christy Freeleagus Oration.

The Hon Justice A Philippides, Court of Appeal, presented a commentary on ‘Legal Influences – across centuries and borders’.

Ross Perrett, Partner at Clayton Utz, gave this address at the Alexander Christy Freeleagus Oration.

Pictures from the Event

The Queensland Chapter of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association on 10 June held a seminar on embracing diversity in the law with speakers, the Hon Yvette D’Ath, Attorney-General & Minister for Justice and the Hon Chief Justice Wayne Martin AC.