The Children Act

Many Queensland community legal centres are supported by our members, either by way of accepting briefs or participating in Management Committees.  The Youth Advocacy Centre is one of those CLCs, and it held a fundraising event on the evening of 25 November 2014 in the Banco Court.

There was a reading of Ian McEwan’s latest book, The Children Act, followed by a panel discussion and drinks.  The book follows the deliberations of a Judge when she must consider a case in which a 17 year old boy who is a Jehovah’s Witness declines a blood transfusion.  The role of the Judge was played, in effect, by Dame Quentin Bryce, who a number of passages from the book.  Matt Condon (author of Three Crooked Kings, and Jacks and Jokers) was the Facilitator and the audience was treated to an eminent panel consisting of Dr Conor Brophy, Ethicist, Gwen Murray, Criminologist, Richard Roylance, Senior Paediatrician and Justice David Boddice.

Some photographs are above but, suffice to say, the evening was a fabulous marriage of law and literature, and it is hoped that it will be repeated in the near future. If you would like to support YAC, you can go to its webpage or consider its latest campaign at www.ontheflipside.com.au.

Damien Atkinson
Barrister
Brisbane