Advertisement
Advertisement

Funeral for retired Justice Demack

Retired Queensland Supreme Court Judge, the Honourable Alan Demack AO died peacefully on Tuesday, 28 January 2025, aged 90. 

His funeral service will be held at 11am on 14 February 2025 at the South Rockhampton Uniting Church, Campbell Street, Rockhampton.

His Honour was admitted to the bar in 1957, appointed to the District Court in May 1972, to the Family Court in 1976 as the first justice of that court in Queensland, and to the Supreme Court as Central Judge based in Rockhampton in 1978. 

He retired in 2000 after 28 years’ service as a judge, and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queens Birthday Honours List that year.

His citation read: “For service to the community, to the Uniting Church in Australia, and to the law, particularly through the Supreme Court of Queensland.”

At the time of his retirement, Justice Demack was the longest-serving judge on the Queensland Supreme Court.

Advertisement
TR CoCounsel

His retirement was reported in Proctor in 2000 with a special dinner held in Mackay in July, and a feature article was later penned by his son, and Gadens Partner, Jim in October.

At the Mackay dinner, Justice Demack said the legal profession was built around the trust and honesty of the profession without which “the very web of our society would collapse”.

Valedictory ceremonies were also held in Brisbane and Rockhampton. One of his daughters Anne also followed in his footsteps and Judge Anne Demack sits on the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in Rockhampton.

During a valedictory ceremony, then Chief Justice Paul de Jersey said: “Justice Demack has exemplified in large measure all the qualities considered as typifying the very best judges.”

After his retirement from the bench, His Honour was appointed the first Integrity Commissioner.

Queensland Law Society President Genevieve Dee said: “I extend my sincerest condolences to the Honourable Justice Alan Demack’s loved ones on behalf of the Queensland Law Society.

Advertisement
TR CoCounsel

“Justice Demack has been a pillar of the Queensland legal community, especially in his work as one of the Queensland Supreme Court’s longest-serving judges, and in his role as Queensland’s first Integrity Commissioner.

“His legacy in the legal profession will be carried on through the hard work of his daughter, Judge Anne Demack who was appointed to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in Rockhampton.”

Share this article

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search by keyword