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Wednesday March 2005, Media Release

PASSING OF A GENTLE GIANT

Aboriginal people throughout Australia and many in the wider community will be shocked and saddened by news of the death in Sydney last night of Australia’s first Aboriginal judge, Bob Bellear, following a long illness.

He was, in every sense, a gentle giant.

A former fitter and turner in the Navy, Bob was inspired to study law by the injustices suffered by Sydney’s Aboriginal community in the 1970’s and his growing political activism.

He graduated in law from the University of NSW in 1974 and qualified as a barrister.

After five years as a Public Defender and three years as counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, he was sworn in as a NSW District Court judge in 1996.

He was known throughout Australia for his compassion and commitment.

Everyone will be the poorer for his passing.

NSWALC has extended its sincere condolences to the Bellear family on behalf of all of our staff and the wider land council network.

It has assured the family that it will assist in any way it can to ensure that his passing is accorded the recognition his contribution and inspiration to our community so richly deserves.

Murray Chapman
Administrator, NSWALC
March 16, 2005

William Johnstone
Chief Executive Officer