The Prism — The Hon. Sir George Street CH GCVO QC

What is your motto?

Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem – (In the good old days, children like you were left to perish on windswept crags)

What is your idea of earthly happiness?

My amanuensis – Miss Jocelyn Cramphorn OAM

What could you not live without?

 My amanuensis – Miss Jocelyn Cramphorn OAM

What is your greatest fear?

I have no fears now, but I do dislike crowds – especially of people.

What is your greatest indulgence?

My many richly embossed, Moroccan leather bound volumes of letters of congratulation.

Which skill or talent would you most like to have?

I possess so many that I find it difficult to conceive of any that I desire.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Confidence.

What is the quality you most admire in a person?

Deference.

What is your most marked characteristic?

That is difficult – as I am fortunate to be possessed of all the great virtues – my most marked characteristic is probably my modesty.

On what occasion do you lie?

When I am asked if the judges of today are as good as the judges in my time on the bench.

What is your greatest regret?

That is difficult. Perhaps not having listened to those more senior to me when I was first admitted – especially Jim Crowley. No, I think my greatest regret was mentioning to Owen Dixon that the Communist Party Dissolution Act was invalid. We should have rid ourselves of the Bolsheviks much earlier than we did.

Which words or expressions do you most over-use?

Monstra mihi pecuniam! – (Show me the money!)

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Perhaps I am too ready to be generous in my assessments of the incompetents who surround me.

To what do you aspire?

I have achieved all that I desire – which is more than others could even dare to contemplate.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a simple servant of the people – immensely talented, enormously gifted, sublimely intelligent – but, still just a simple servant.

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