We are privileged that the President of the Hellenic Republic of Greece has accepted the invitation to open the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association International Conference at the Bastion of the Grand Master’s Palace, Rhodes, Greece.
It is also an honour to have Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC as the keynote speaker, as well as so many other eminent jurists and scholars as speakers and delegates.
I very much look forward to welcoming colleagues in Rhodes, an island spectacular and rich in history. One of its notable achievements was the Colossus of Rhodes built from 292BC to 280BC. This bronze statue was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In in 220BC it suffered significant damage in an earthquake and, over 800 years later, the bronze was melted by invaders and sold.
The Tasmanian Chapter of HAL will shortly be hosting the inaugural Sir John Demetrius Morris Oration. Chief Justice Chris Kourakis has kindly agreed to deliver the Oration, which will be titled “Greek Independence and its Significance to the Development of International Law” on Friday 16 March 2018.
In 2018, HAL will be holding the following Orations:
- 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.
Further details of the above Orations will be posted on the HAL website events calendar closer to the events.
It is also my pleasure, on behalf of members of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association, to congratulate HAL member Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson SC. It was recently announced that the Junior Vice-President of the NSW Bar Association, and well respected silk, is to be appointed to the ACT Supreme Court on 26 March 2018. Ms Loukas-Karlsson SC is profiled in this Newsletter.
Finally, I encourage members to participate in the HAL Mentoring Program, which is featured in this Newsletter. Mentoring is rewarding for both mentors and mentees.
Manuel (Mal) Varitimos QC CBE
President
Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association