Page 30 - Luce 204

C OUNCIL NE WS C OUNCIL NE WS

Honours 2024
Retirement of JCH President,

Archbishop Philip Freier
Australia Day Honours After several years with little time to mentoring of Mahtab Fazl, a former had a disability or were frail and needing
woman judge from Afghanistan, who was
pursue the intellectual side of things, I
help and support at home. I joined Silver
Member of the Order started a part-time master’s degree in part of a group evacuated to Australia Circle, a community care program, doing
of Australia (AM) in the law by course work. Married, with a baby, when the Taliban took over. It continues just that and worked there for nineteen
General Division and with barely adequate childcare and to be a great honour to introduce her to years, the last eight as CEO. We grew and
a partly finished degree making even the Courts and help her re-establish her provided home services to people across
part-time practice impossible, I opted out life and profession in Australia. four states and two territories, including
of legal practice and began lecturing in a flexible aged care service on the Tiwi
Legal Studies at Melbourne State College, Islands. This was facilitated by acquiring
which was later absorbed into Melbourne King’s Birthday Honours some services and also by being acquired
University. Medal of the Order of by Calvary Health Care where I was
During the following nine years of Australia (OAM) in the introduced to Catholic services and, in
this instance, to the sisters of the Little
lecturing, I had two more children, General Division Company of Mary.
and sat as a sessional member on the
Social Security Appeals Tribunal, later to On leaving there, I approached the
become part of the AAT. Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP),
initially as a volunteer, intending to wind
From there I was appointed to the
Magistrates’ Court, where for fifteen years down a bit, but that didn’t last long. I
have now been a full-time coordinator
I sat in all jurisdictions. New legislation
in 1986 had required magistrates to there for ten years, working with Sr Brigid
Arthur in supporting some of the most
Her Honour Judge be legally qualified, which opened the vulnerable people in our community.
door for women to be appointed, as the
Wendy Anne Wilmoth AM previous pathway of the Clerks’ service Many of those who came to Australia
by boat continue to live in limbo after
(1968) had in effect prevented this. eleven and twelve years, appealing
For significant service to the The Magistrates’ Court was a newly their visa rejection by a flawed process
judiciary, and to the law. progressive and collegiate institution. and, in many cases, without having the
right to work. Many, especially those
Perhaps this was partly due to the
rapid increase in the number of women who were held offshore for years and
A Judge’s reflection appointed. Almost without exception we then in hotel detention in Australia, are

When I started as a Law/Arts student at were welcomed and mentored, and many Ms Elizabeth Kathleen struggling mentally and physically. BASP
Melbourne University some 50 years ago I took on leadership roles. assists these people as well as some of
knew little about the courts. I knew that all The same was true of the County Court, Bobeff OAM (Libby those who fly in and seek protection in
judges and magistrates were men, indeed to which I was appointed in 2003. My Saunders 1968) Australia. We provide housing to around The Janet Clarke Hall community wishes to thank Archbishop Philip Freier and Joy
nearly all positions of power everywhere interest in both Courts was the ongoing For service to community 160 people each month, pay rent and Freier for their generous support of the College during his episcopacy.
were occupied by men. I had no ambition professional development of judicial bills for another 100+ each month and We have so appreciated the support, guidance, warmth, and kindness with which
to join the judicial ranks. That happened officers, initially not universally accepted health, particularly asylum have 100 volunteers assisting in a variety
much later. as being necessary, or indeed consistent seekers. of ways, but mostly providing friendship Philip has performed his role as President of the College.

As a first-year student in 1968 I was a with judicial independence. and social support to individuals and His wise counsel has ensured that the College continues to be guided by its
families.
non-resident member of Janet Clark Hall. But this changed and in 2005 the I entered JCH in 1968 when men had Anglican mission of fostering the intellectual, personal, and spiritual growth of
I joined some tutorials at the College, Judicial College of Victoria was to leave the premises by 6pm and the This work provides both hope and promising young people, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
but my main interest and enjoyment was created. Thereafter opportunities female freshers had to do a domestic despair. The hope is from the goodwill of Though today Janet Clarke Hall warmly welcomes students and staff of all faith
being invited to join friends for lunch, for keeping magistrates, judges and science test, presumably to prepare them so many in our community who provide backgrounds, it is clear that the College’s longstanding commitment to offering
which was a welcome change from the tribunal members up to date with for being a good hostess. Both practices financial and personal support to enable true equity of educational opportunity is in no small part the result of our
caf in the Union Building. I made life- changes in the law, different ways of were dropped quite soon afterwards. our work to proceed. The goodwill and founding and development in the Anglican tradition.
long friends from those days. I clearly doing things, improved efficiency, and I had three happy years at JCH as I did courage of so many of the asylum seekers
remember the JCH annual ball – and I still general inspiration were in the hands a BA/Dip Soc Studies course, which has is also an inspiration. The despair is that The College remains proud to be associated with a progressive Anglican church
have a photo to prove that I was there. of professionals. This was an enormous subsequently taken me to a variety of successive governments can continue that values intellectual curiosity and academic rigour; that holds space for robust
My Articles were with John Zigouras & Co, saving of time for judicial officers, who experiences I am so fortunate to have to treat these people so cruelly over yet respectful debate; that has supported female clerics to take up leadership
such a lengthy period. BASP continues
a middle-sized law firm offering a wide previously had limited resources and had. to seek justice and a fairer system for positions; and that is unafraid to take a principled and vocal stance on the
range of experience, from which I gained support. Starting my social work career at the people fleeing persecution and seeking important issues of the day, including the Voice to Parliament and the climate
an enormous benefit. I learned quickly I retired in 2020, having reached the Royal Melbourne Hospital, I was then Australia’s protection. It is a privilege to crisis.
that the world of legal practice was far mandatory age, but have continued part of the early days of their Community be a part of this work. We look forward to working with the new Archbishop of Melbourne to ensure the
removed from my academic experience, sitting as a Reserve Judge. It is a great Health Centre program, before taking up flourishing of Janet Clarke Hall in the future, and to supporting the work of the
and I had a lot of learning to do. I also privilege to be able to do so. the role as Senior Social Worker at the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne within the community.
discovered that a woman lawyer was not Spastic Society.
always the first choice of a traditional For the past three years, as a member Dr Eleanor Spencer-Regan
male client, while female clients were of the Australian Association of Women These experiences highlighted a need for Principal
happy to engage me. Judges, I have been helping with the a more responsive service to people who

30 L u ce Number 23 2024 Janet Clar ke Hall 31