Vale – Gregory M McDermott

9Feb2022

Bar Roll No: 1651

Greg McDermott passed away peacefully on Friday 4th February 2022 after a relatively short illness. He was 65 years old.

Greg read with the Hon. Alwynne Rowlands, he signed the Bar Roll on 1st June 1981 and always maintained that he was briefed in his first case at age 23.

Greg McDermott’s life is to be celebrated at 3:30pm on Friday, 25 February 2022 at Ricketts Point Beachside Cafe, located at 407C Beach Road, Beaumaris.

He attended CBC St Kilda where he was a brilliant student, becoming dux of Humanities in 1973. He went on to Monash University where he completed a combined Arts/Law degree, returning there in 1980 to undertake a Masters degree.

Greg’s career at the Bar extended over 40 years during which he practised almost exclusively within the civil jurisdiction of the Magistrates’ Court. While by no means his exclusive source of work, he spent many years as a leader in the “crash & bash” field. His peers in that jurisdiction will remember him, not only for his sharp intellect and superb advocacy skills, but also his indomitable sense of humour and sharp wit, both inside and outside the courtroom.

Greg was a foremost exponent of his craft, to which he brought the highest standards of integrity and understanding to his clients’ causes.

His brothers, Paul and Peter, are also long-standing members of our Bar. They share Greg’s life-long passion for the Carlton Football Club.

Perhaps Greg might have rated as his greatest achievement the raising of his three wonderful children, Edward, Will and Amanda, following the premature passing of his beloved wife Dina in 2002. He was so proud to be able to move the admission to practice of each of them and watch them develop as successful members of the profession under his guidance.

In the adversarial environment of life at the bar, few of our number could claim to have been more admired, respected and loved by his peers. He will be greatly missed by the many he touched.

 

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