Tuesday night was a busy night for Annual General Meetings.
I attended the Victorian Bar Foundation [VBF] directors meeting followed by its Annual General meeting. The Chair, the Hon. John Digby QC was pleased and excited to announce that the Hon. Justice Michelle Gordon AC has recently accepted an invitation to become the Patron of the Foundation. The VBF, which was established as a not-for-profit organisation in 2011, works to promote several causes in the community, including encouraging and supporting young adults from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds to consider and pursue a career in the law and in particular a career at the Victorian Bar. The Foundation welcomes input from members as to how best to achieve its aims and to engage with any particular community to encourage the future diversity of our Bar. Members who are in a position to make a donation to the Foundation can do so via the donation form here.
Victoria’s Acting Chief Health Officer has given a further set of directions pursuant to s. 200(1)(d) of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (Vic) concerning mandatory vaccination for certain workers: COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions (No 8).
At its meeting on 11 November 2021, the Bar Council resolved to seek expressions of interest for the positions of Honorary Secretary and Assistant Honorary Secretary.
It is with deep regret that the Bar Council informs members of the death of the Honourable Geoffrey Michael Giudice AO on Wednesday 17 November 2021. He was 73.
On Tuesday, I attended the State Funeral for the Hon. Sir James Gobbo AC CVO QC. The funeral was well attended by current and former judiciary, including the Chief Justice, Anne Ferguson and the President of the Court of Appeal, Christopher Maxwell. The Hon. Daniel Andrews and former Premiers of the State were also in attendance, as were a number of members of the Bar. The Governor of Victoria, the Hon. Linda Dessau AC, Allen Myers AC QC and Jeremy Gobbo QC delivered eloquent eulogies that told of Sir James’ commitment to community service, his faith, the law and his family.
The newly appointed President of the Victorian Bar Róisín Annesley QC said the Victorian Government’s proposed amendments to the Pandemic Management Bill do not go far enough to protect the rule of law.
On Wednesday, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria announced the appointment of 16 new silks. I congratulate Siobhan Ryan, Graeme Hill, Angus Macnab, Lisa Hespe, Daniel Aghion, Marc Felman, Meghan O’Sullivan, Nicholas Wood, Fiona Ryan, Kathleen Foley, Emily Porter, Elizabeth Bennett, Patrick Doyle, Ruth Shann, Charles Parkinson and Barbara Myers. I wish them every success in their new role as leaders of the Victorian Bar and the legal profession in this State.
The appointment of 16 new silks to the Victorian Bar by the Supreme Court of Victoria is welcomed by Victorian Bar President, Christopher Blanden QC.
The Victorian Bar today welcomed the appointment of 16 new Senior Counsel by the Honourable Chief Justice Anne Ferguson of the Supreme Court of Victoria:
