Obituary & Service - Noel Jeffrey Ackman QC

Noel Ackman was educated at Mount Scopus College, the University of Melbourne and Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

At the University of Melbourne, he was a member of the Students’Representative Council, and of the Union Council; and at the Southern
Methodist University he was the Foreign Students Representative.

He graduated Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne. At Southern Methodist University, he won the Exhibition – the Top of his Year – in Comparative International Law, graduating Master of Comparative Law.

He was admitted to practice in 1968. Upon his return to Australia from his graduate work in the United States at the end of 1969, he began reading with Abraham Monester (later QC). He signed the Bar Roll in February 1970.

Noel practised at the Bar for more than 47 years, of those approaching 25 years as Silk. He had six Readers. He took Silk in 1992 and he became a Leader of the Family Law Bar, frequently appearing interstate and in the Full
Court of the Family Court.

He was Chairman of the Family Law Bar Association for a remarkable 10 years (1998-2008); and remained on the Committee another 3 years. He also served on the Bar Litigation Procedure Review Committee – Family Law. He was a great character; and was inducted as a Legend of the Victorian Bar in 2015.

Beyond the Law, he collected vintage and other collectable motor vehicles. He got off to a good start, driving an E-Type Jaguar when he was a law student at the University of Melbourne. He had a particular fondness for Ferraris – in particular, a Ferrari California convertible, with only a brief flirtation with a Lamborghini.

The Funeral Service is at 12 noon on Monday 11 September 2017 at the Renowden Chapel at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Princes Highway Springvale.