Good evening ladies and gentlemen thank you for the very warm welcome. I acknowledge all distinguished guests as well any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples present. Justin Graham KC sent me this letter asking to give speech. It says in terms can talk about ‘whatever want’. Think that a moment. It’s not long ago Supreme Court judge wanted speak at Bar dinner his own grandfather’s experiences during World War I. Nor is it really since County addressed detail involved certain changes made Civil Procedure Rules. For matter once delivered an extremely lengthy speech concerning love of cricket. Mindful these other such examples thought would adopt relatively conventional course and least while simply myself. You’ve already heard some aspects my career Bar. Let summarise you: came 1998. proceeded lose great number cases. was so good that apparently qualified become silk 2011. then even greater Ten years later judge. faded into relative obscurity exactly two day until addressing tonight. In time Bar however lucky enough work friends with truly barristers. One late great RJ Stanley QC. Dick natural. Handsome debonair easy charm akin Robert Redford: if know who is. did few cases early on several we became colleagues chambers. proud call him friend. He also hero insightful kind hard-working humorous. led by him. everything practically nothing. opened case jury. charming magnetic persuasive unknown jury members clamour attention. case opening powerful intoxicating normally flint eyed defendant got wobbles. A figure offered settled table. We retired Dick’s chambers victorious. The client sobbed gratitude relief. She said ‘I never enough’. When she said ‘you’ should have ‘Dick’. At one point overwhelmed emotion extended her arms widely rushing across room. removed wig placed on desk bracing himself inevitable impact. sailed straight past him completely inexplicably threw around me. feigned protest but nowhere near hard enough. To be perfectly honest bit miffed rightly so realistically he probably had only another wait next triumph. Another was still is Jeremy Ruskin KC. worked from neighbours uncommon were due go High Canberra. discussed argument which law negligence. Full something bailment whatever asked part waved dismissively ‘Don’t worry it.’ That rookie mistake. If they don’t teach following rule Readers should: ignore parts argument like understand. But I’d just broken rule doing coaxed leader ignoring important deciding against us. And facing kind people usually miss things. morning sitting 2 Canberra opposed true Sydney BW Walker SC. Legend has Bret travels custom-made attaché internal moulding crafted cradle chosen volume CLRs suitable tome. idea book extracted critical moment deployed vanquish opponent. barristerial equivalent sniper open assemble rifle shoot bullet through head target within 3.9 seconds. table fretting. initially back By contrast us looked ease. point swung around right hand book presumably case. started telling us rather airily how he’d been 1 five days involving Constitutional claims over water. our raised what described ‘an interesting question’. might things too either could hear them. transfixed title book: ‘Palmer Bailment’. Time stopped turned each utter horror. cartoons where characters are looking every direction no same time. Except table Australia realised likely cast role Coyote Walker’s Road Runner imminently crushed giant anvil bearing words eventually managed strangled whisper: ‘You told worry’. searched most useful articulate response said: ‘Um’. Chief Justice ‘Yes Mr Ruskin.’ talking contemplating life beyond Then miracle happened: waving copy Palmer Bailment see it no-one interested emerged unscathed. Later result: appeal allowed. solicitor grateful both appropriately gracious. gracious all None ago. However male white. Happily your world little different. now occasional privilege admission ceremonies getting modern diverse profession. diversity evident tonight’s group readers. I’m reliably informed more than 50% female there readers hailing Kenya Philippines United States Kingdom Canada Australia. absolutely fantastic ways affirming significant change take place short period Now me I’ve spoken days. There many barrister undeserving beneficiary miracles universe. You’ll share too. Enjoy those Because there’s others. personal injuries litigation it’s common – customary plaintiff evidence experiencing ‘good bad days’. Yet they’re us Walker. Sometimes annoying. times quite confounding distressing. An example latter when manages unloseable topic regarded having ‘specialised knowledge’ meaning s 79 Evidence Act. actually lots day. young silk. barristers Some friends. friend mine too went From start wrong. Once started opponents. contest after all their client’s interests advanced. mean suggest anyone else anything improper professional dereliction opponents done differently. wasn’t happening feel personal. Very felt way sought project calm control cover hurt thin bitter humour. randomness universe weren’t wind tried jolly along joking well-meaning sort way. passing commentary performance escaping torment. Many months later epic written submissions named criticised personally detail. anger finally occurred settled. appreciation gone. irretrievably angry hurt alone. blamed doesn’t much matter whether wrong do that. consequence followed harder. Fuelled redeem myself - wounds heal fought devil. situation worse worse. lost joy. took joylessness home. saw etched faces wife beautiful children. path losing them friends? didn’t tell them felt feeling. How ever understand pretending happening? laugh intractable bitterness sometimes meanly misfortune died sleep 2020. He’d sick time final nature death sudden unexpected. position normal form grief. passed without being able meant regret deeply. Ironically midst this successful professionally. ironical confirmed senior counsel assisting Royal Commission Victoria’s Mental Health system. What this? Nothing. Ever. alone kitchen bench. before appeal. Like chambers before sobbing uncontrollably. unlike her couldn’t stop. dark feeling deep retrieve myself work. As do. Fortunately hadn’t existed Bar: namely VicBar website. found all: crisis service. service saved family. here today it. maybe room think shouldn’t story. What? it? he’s loses again? sit dispassionately cases? Particularly psychiatric injury? stick funny stories times. That’s want hear particularly Readers. thinking abyss. Critical suspicious unforgiving cruel. suffering just less. always will be: although accepted make peace first So you Readers’ September 2022? 2023 future. You inheritors system best delivers real justice. because destroy else yourself. experience days similar happened happens everything’s fine left blaming yourself ok. profession competitive intrinsically involves winning losing you’re competing double peers friends realistic seek support After turn think recognise happen happening. help can. So now. Undoubtedly ups downs. makes greatest job all. Ross Gillies ‘God loves barrister’. job calling. Even solicitors stands action starts court. Each called onto field play represent litigants meaningful: why Stanley’s No-one rational wants litigant. stressful unpleasant uncertain. shepherd hour need. advisor avatar. calling nobility exists determination conflict issues importance. Within look life: elegant ugly just unjust hilariously funny. moment client case yet tears reckoning. happens matters. There’s nothing say a) you’ve won unwinnable unloseable b) sat lump throat awaiting verdict jury c) sting loss d) prepared assiduously transcends mere notes guide it e) seen eyes admiration moments you’ll alive. human condition. end better alternative single beautiful. Hon. Stephen O’Meara Victoria 18 May 2023