‘Proud and passionate’ judge

PETER HEEREY February 16, 1939 May 1, 2021

AN esteemed Tasmanian lawyer has been remembered by colleagues as a generous, accomplished family man after losing a two-year battle with cancer.

Peter Heerey AM, QC, Tasmanian barrister and solicitor, Victorian barrister and nationally respected judge of the Federal Court of Australia died in Melbourne on May 1.

He had been diagnosed with cancer two years previously.

Mr Heerey was born in Hobart on February 16, 1939, and attended St Virgil’s College and the University of Tasmania, where he graduated with first class honours in law in 1961 and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Tasmania early that year.

After an overseas trip in 1961 he returned to Tasmania and in 1962 successfully applied for a Davies Brothers (The Mercury) scholarship which provided for a year of study at the Melbourne Law

School and one year of work with a Melbourne law firm.

Mr Heerey studied company law at the University of Melbourne and worked as a solicitor in Melbourne before returning to Hobart in 1964 when he commenced work with the Hobart law firm Dobson Mitchell and Allport, later becoming a partner in the firm.

Peter retained his thirst for learning throughout his life and while working in Hobart he returned to university, obtaining a bachelor of arts degree in 1964.

Peter left Tasmania in 1967 to continue his career in the law in Melbourne.

While he studied and worked in Hobart he played rugby and sailed regularly on the Derwent River.

In 1966 conducted the successful campaign of his lifelong friend, then 27-year-old Michael Hodgman, for election to the seat of Huon in the Legislative Council.

Peter signed the Victorian Bar Roll in May 1967 and commenced a successful career as a barrister taking silk in 1985.

He held many offices in the

legal profession and outside, including the Victorian Bar Council, Councillor on the

Hawthorn City Council, Member of the Barristers’ Disciplinary Tribunal, Chairman

of the Victorian Psychological Council and joint editor of the Victorian Bar News.

In December, 1990, Peter was appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, in Melbourne, a position he held until his retirement in February 2009.

He frequently conducted the Federal Court’s sittings in Hobart and used these visits to contribute to and encourage the work of the Law School and to continue his association with his wide circle of old friends.

He was a very proud and a passionate advocate for this state.

Peter’s ability to ease the challenge of complex and difficult matters with patience, wisdom and well judged levity earned him the admiration of his colleagues and the profession generally.

He happily accepted additional responsibilities during his time with the Federal Court.

In 2000 he was appointed President of the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal, in 2003 he was Deputy President of the Australian

Competition Tribunal and in 2007 Presidential Member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Peter married Sally Macdonald, a microbiologist, in 1969.

They have three sons, Edward and twins Charles and Tom, now living with their own families in Victoria, New South Wales and Ireland.

Peter’s enthusiasm and energy for the work of his chosen profession extended to all aspects of his life, family, friends, travel and recreation. He loved skiing and he and Sally travelled extensively, undertaking long cycling tours in far off lands.

Peter Heerey was a poet, writer and a person generous with his time and input. In ‘retirement’ he returned to the Bar and undertook mediations and arbitrations and continued his commitment to public service by accepting appointment as Chairperson of the Australian Electoral Commission.

In 2012 Peter was made a Member of the Order of Australia. He was a fine person who will be missed by all who knew him.