It is with great delight that the ECLC Board appointed Mr Ian Gray, Chief Magistrate, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria as the Patron for the Centre in August 2006.

Mr Gray has held many positions of influence throughout his career. Early in his career, Mr Gray was ECLC’s Community Solicitor. He also was a solicitor with the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service.

During the 1980’s and 1990’s, Mr Gray specialised in criminal defence work, was the Principal Legal Advisor for the Northern Land Council in Darwin, was appointed as a Northern Territory Magistrate, and then two years later, was appointed Chief Magistrate for the Northern Territory. In the late 1990’s, Mr Gray returned to Victoria where he practiced criminal law, administrative law and employment law and was also a mediator in Native Title.

In the year 2000, Mr Gray was the head of the Land & Property Unit of the United Nations Transitional
Administration in East Timor. Over the past few years, Mr Gray has also been the Vice President of the Victorian branch of the International Commission of Jurists.

Mr Gray was appointed the Chief Magistrate of Victoria in March 2001. In the past few years, there has been significant change within the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria including the creation of a Drug Court, Koori Court and Family Violence Court.

The Centre is delighted to have Mr Gray as our Patron. He has had a long association with ECLC, including as an early volunteer, Community Solicitor and Committee member. More recently, he has supported ECLC’s campaign for services in the Outer East. Mr Gray brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position of Patron and ECLC is grateful for our ongoing work together.

Acknowledgment: Source: www.monash.edu.au

ECLC’s Patron, Mr Ian Gray, sent the following message at the launch of the Outer East Office.

First, can I say it gives me great pleasure to accept the invitation to be Patron of the Eastern Community Legal Centre.

I would very much have liked to be at the launch today but can’t be there. I am a strong believer in CLC’s and have great faith in their future. They are a vital and vibrant part of the spectrum of legal service provision to all Victorians.

Although we are opening a new office today, I have very fond memories of my time at the centre, both as a volunteer and community lawyer. I should acknowledge the wonderful pioneering work done by Erskine Rodan, Geoff Eames and many other hard workers in the first foundational years. Any celebration has to reflect that past history.

For the future, I look forward to active participation and meeting as many of you as possible at ECLC events. I wish everybody well and congratulate you on the opening of the new Centre.

Best wishes,

Ian Gray, Chief Magistrate