Book Review: An Almost Forgotton World

Many may think it sad when one of Her Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law, formerly a Justice of the Court of Appeal, feels he must bare all to reveal personal events that have faded from view. Certainly this apparently calm, no nonsense practitioner, who has hitherto acted with quiet decorum, has surprised many in the profession with this exposé.

The memoir is divided into a number of periods, childhood, schooling at preparatory level, primary and secondary schooling, his university days and his years in the profession. It is full of detail which for the most part accurately portrays the community in Queensland during each period. The recollections are poignant but unsophisticated. People’s personal circumstances have now become the province of the social media. They may be better left in that scene.

Thomas tells of his parents and his home life with details which appear unnecessary. Events of 70 years ago are likely to suffer distortion through time. Childhood memories are often inaccurate. Why detail them?

This prompts the question, why was the book written? The author has said that if things are not written down they are forgotten. That is true. What deserves to be salvaged? Surely mundane matters do not, nor do intimate details of intensely personal events. Certainly that is true of a published work. Interestingly, in the early 1990s at an AGM of the Bar Association one optimist moved that a section of the minutes of the previous AGM be deleted as the events recounted were best retained in the memories of those who were present. The motion was not met with laughter, as one might expect, but it was soundly defeated. Simple domestic details, however, occupy a different place.

Thomas talks of the Bar between 1959 and 1982 when he was elevated. The picture is informative. He tells of an appeal to the High Court in the Ted Brown Quarries case. Thomas was for the appellant who failed to prove fraud in the Court below. It was part heard over the night of the annual Bar dinner. Barwick CJ spoke. He took great delight in likening the opponent, Connelly QC, to a gallant white charger. Thomas purports, not to remember to what he was likened. Others remember that it was to a draught horse plodding along. The terms were apparently applied because Thomas proceeded slowly and carefully (as one should in the High Court) whilst Connolly QC proceeded as he always did. The analogy caused much merriment at Thomas’ expense, but he had the last laugh. He won the case 4-1, the sole dissentient being the Chief Justice.

The book provides accurate pictures of a number of the judiciary.  It deals harshly with “Bert” Mack.  Not that what is said is inaccurate, but it is brutal.  Some may say that Bert deserved it.  He was a perverse fellow.  However, there is one inaccuracy regarding Mack’s ascension to Chief Justice.  Thomas says the position was promised to Gibbs J.  That is not so.  It was promised to Sir Arnold Bennett QC, the leader of the Bar.  He was at the Privy Council, briefed by the Crown and Mack J sneaked under his guard.  Jack Aboud who was part of the liberal hierarchy had the full story.

Thomas’ musical pursuits are recorded as a current flowing through several chapters.  He was a gifted pianist who performed at a high level.

The presentation, printing and photographs are wonderful.

The book is easy reading and in my assessment the later chapters are absorbing.  If you went to “Churchie” some of the earlier parts may also capture your attention.

On the whole, however, one is left with the question, has the writer anything to say?  The answer, in my view is, not a great deal.