2007 Justice Awards
The 2007 Justice Awards were presented at a dinner at Parliament House on 31 October 2007.
Winners of the 2007 Justice Awards (photo below) presented by the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW on 31 October 2007 at Parliament House, Sydney were:
2007 Justice Medal: the pre-eminent Award for outstanding individual achievement in improving access to justice especially for socially and economically disadvantaged people, was presented by Sir Anthony Mason AC KBE to
Michael Raper, Welfare Rights Centre of NSW
for his passionate yet balanced campaigning and advocacy for reductions in levels of poverty, inequality and hardship. Director since 1990 of the NSW Welfare Rights Centre, he leads a community legal centre specialising in Social Security and Family Tax Benefit law, helping the most disadvantaged people access their entitlements.
2007 Aboriginal Justice Award: presented by Barry Collier MP to
Paul Teerman, Aboriginal Client Service Officer, Penrith Local Court
for helping young people to better understand the legal system and avoid the criminal justice system. He is currently setting up a mentoring program with community groups and schools, identifying opportunities for young people to either pursue further education or trades.
- "Highly Commended” was Terri Janke for her work to assist Aboriginal artists and cultural organizations on matters relating to intellectual property rights.
2007 Pro Bono Partnership Award: presented by John Corker, Director, the National Pro Bono Resource Centre to
the partnership of the Homicide Victim’s Support Group and Henry Davis York
which assists the families and friends of homicide victims deal with the array of legal issues they face at a terribly distressing time. This includes preparing for coronial inquests, wills, estate and property issues and investigating compensation for family members.
2007 Law And Justice Volunteer Award: presented Michael Slattery QC, President, NSW Bar Association to
Brenda McKinnon, Albury Wodonga Community Information Referral Centre
for her contribution as volunteer Centre manager for nine years before it closed earlier this year, She established its Community Legal Aid Assistance Scheme, assisting disadvantaged clients to complete legal aid forms, find lawyers, appeal decisions, make court appointments and attend court.
2007 Law Society President’s Award: presented to
David Roth, Mulley Roth Solicitors
who has taken on 14 cases referred to him this year from The Law Society’s Pro Bono Scheme, as well as undertaking pro bono work for his own law firm.
2007 Combined Community Legal Centres Group (Cclcg) Award: presented to
Linda Wright, Illawarra Community Legal Centre
for her 22 years of commitment to the Centre, beginning as a volunteer solicitor when it first opened, and further involvement on the Centre’s Management Committee, including three years as Chair, and 13 as Deputy Chair.
-
Susan Mordaunt was "Highly Commended” for a 22 year commitment to her weekly voluntary legal advice session at Kingsford Community Legal Centre
2007 LIAC Centre of Excellence Awards: presented to by State Librarian Regina Sutton to
Richmond-Upper Clarence Regional Library
for extending its successful Law@your library education initiative throughout the region, targeting local government staff in ten local councils.
Maitland City Library
for its ‘Opening the doors to law’ project which created a numberof activities aimed at engaging all members of the community to increase their understanding of aspects of the law.
The 2007 Law and Justice Address was delivered by The Hon Sir Gerard Brennan AC KBE.
All the 2007 Justice Awards Winners
Nominations for the 2007 Justice Awards:
The 2007 Justice Medal — sponsored by the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW
The Justice Medal is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in improving access to justice in NSW, particularly for socially and economically disadvantaged people. This may have been demonstrated in a range of activities over an extended period, or work over a shorter period but of exceptional impact.
- Jenny Bargen – Department of Juvenile Justice
- Joy Connor – Housing/Tenancy Advocate
- Robyn Cotterell-Jones – Victims of Crime Assistance League
- Mary Crock – Refugee Advocate
- Faye Druett – People With Disabilities
- Tania Evers - Barrister
- Danny Gilbert - Solicitor
- Atef Hamie – Canterbury Bankstown Migrant Resource Centre
- Beverley Lazarou – Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme
- Michael Raper – Welfare Rights Centre/Network
- Steve Snelgrove – Lismore and District Financial Counselling Service
- Faye Westwood - Wesley Community Legal Service
The 2007 Aboriginal Justice Award — sponsored by the Attorney General's Department of NSW
The Aboriginal Justice Award is presented to an Aboriginal individual or a group of individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to improving access to justice for Aboriginal people in NSW. This may have been demonstrated in a range of activities over an extended period, or in a single significant activity.
- Neva Collings – Environmental Defenders' Office
- Terri Janke – Solicitor
- Roger Knox – Prisons Visitor
- Mark Spinks - Centrelink
- Paul Teerman – Attorney General's Department of NSW
- Nancy Walke – Mirrung Ngu Wanjarri Project, Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre
The Law and Justice Volunteer Award — sponsored by the NSW Bar Association
The Law and Justice Volunteer Award is presented to an individual or group of individuals who, in a voluntary capacity, have demonstrated outstanding commitment to improving access to justice in NSW, particularly for socially and economically disadvantaged people. NB: Current legal practitioners are not eligible for nomination.
- Gina Dumas – The Genderlight
- Brenda McKinnon – Albury Wodonga Community Information and Referral Centre
- Mission Australia Court Support Scheme Volunteers
- Wendy Neil – Marrickville Community Legal Centre
- Ngareta Rossell – Refugee Advocate
The Law Society of NSW President's Award
- Ms Bernadette Allas
- Ms Anne Cregan
- Mr Nicholas Patrick
- Mr David Roth
The Pro Bono Partnership Award — sponsored by the National Pro Bono Resource Centre
The Pro Bono Partnership Award is presented to a partnership comprising a private law firm, community organisation and/or community legal centre in NSW which has developed an outstanding pro bono legal assistance relationship, resulting in improved access to justice for disadvantaged people in the community.
- Blinky Bill Portland Children's Centre and Barry F Cosier & Associates
- Central West Cooperative Legal Service Delivery (CLSD) Program and Blake Dawson Waldron
- Homeless Persons' Legal Service (a project of PIAC and PILCH) in partnership with
Allens Arthur Robinson
Baker & McKenzie
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Deacons
DLA Phillips Fox
Ebsworth & Ebsworth
Gilbert + Tobin
Henry Davis York
Legal Aid Parramatta
Minter Ellison |
and
| Edward Eagar Lodge
Matthew Talbot Hostel
Newtown Mission
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre
Norman Andrews House
Parramatta Missions
Streetlevel Cafe
The Station
Wayside Chapel
Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre |
- Homicide Victim's Support Group and Henry Davis York
- Huntingdon's Disease Association and DLA Phillips Fox
- Kingsford Legal Centre and Freehills
- Lou's Place and Blake Dawson Waldron
- Mission Australia (Newcastle) and Sparke Helmore
- The Salvation Army (Auburn) and Mills Oatley
The Combined Community Legal Centres' Group NSW Award
- Ms Adele Bentham — nominated by North and North West Community Legal Service
- Ms Margaret Jones — nominated by Redfern Legal Centre
- Ms Sue Mordaunt — nominated by Kingsford Legal Centre
- Ms Frances Tse — nominated by the Environmental Defender's Office
- Ms Linda Wright — nominated by Illawarra Legal Centre
The LIAC Centre of Excellence Award
- Maitland City Library
- Richmond-Upper Clarence Regional Library
