Publication:Navy Annual 2005/HMAS KUTTABUL Legal Officers Dinner
BY LIEUTENANT SOPHIE YORK, RANR
On Friday, 12 November 2004, currently serving legal officers from Navy, Army and Air Force gathered together with members of the NSW reserve Naval legal Panel and distinguished guests at the Wardroom HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney NSW to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the foundation of the New south Wales reserve Naval legal Panel.
The Panel had its inception after the collision between HMAS Voyager and HMAS Melbourne in February 1964.
The royal Commission that followed saw the then LEUT Laurence Street appear as a QC with his junior John Sinclair, for Mrs Stevens, the widow of CAPT Duncan Stevens RAN, Commanding Officer of the ill-fated Voyager. It was considered thereafter that the interests of the Navy would be better served in the future were there to be a Naval Legal Branch. At the Mess dinner, the Guest of Honour, Sir Laurence Street, gave the panel an invaluable first-hand account of the day, which had made history. Summoned to the office of VADM WH Harrington KBE, CB, DSO, RAN then Chief of Naval staff (CNS), he thought "Oh, I must have put my foot in it somehow."
His trepidation could not have been more misplaced as the Lieutenant entered the office only to be greeted with praise, and instructions to the effect that he must set up a Naval Legal Branch. He departed the room a Commander. A copy of the historical document, a minute paper dated 22 October 1964, signed by CNS, summarising the need, intention and purpose of a legal corps, was placed at each table setting at the Mess dinner.
Guests at the dinner included the previous Maritime Commander, Rear Admiral rowan Moffitt AM, RAN, RADM Simon Harrington RAN RTD (son of the aforementioned CNS, Vice Admiral W.H Harrington KBE, CB, DSO, RAN), founding members of the original panel and former Heads of Panel, Mr David Voss QC and His Honour Judge J Sinclair QC, His Honour Justice terry Cole QC; His Honour Justice Murray Tobias QC and Captain Peter Callaghan SC. the current Head of Panel in NSW, CMDR Michael Slattery QC, was President and Vice was CAPT Callaghan.
The panel was honoured in particular by the attendance of former Judge Advocate General, Justice Alwyn Rowlands and former Director-General of reserves, Judge Ken Taylor. A number of interstate guests attended including Fabian Dixon, Head of Panel from Tasmania. The speeches were heralded by CMDR Slattery and included a fitting tribute to some of the guests of honour by CMDR Jeffrey Hilton SC.
It was a moving occasion, where those present were reminded of the many times when legal officers are called upon to serve. These may include periods of great stress and sorrow, from collisions at sea, fatal accidents, and disciplinary offences, to occasions where, quite simply, advice has meant the difference between right and wrong decisions being made.
