Vale The Honourable Stephen Thackray
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that the AMHC announces the recent passing of our dear Patron, his Honour Stephen Thackray, Chief Judge Of the Family Court of Western Australia (retired). Chief Judge, retired in January last year after a 22-year career as a judicial officer.
In February of 2018, the Chief Judge and his legal team developed the Djidji Nyirti programme, a model for a culturally appropriate outreach service to Aboriginal people in Newman and surrounding communities.
The service assisted people residing in this location to seek orders and help demystify the role of the Family Court to Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people are disproportionately over-represented in child protection jurisdiction and are reluctant to access assistance in the FCWA.
The AMHC Board were soundly supported by our esteemed patron in the Hon. Stephen Thackray Chief Judge of the Family Court of Western Australia, who believes that the AMHC is a solution, to the trajectory of violence in Aboriginal communities of the Pilbara region.
Mr Thackray is survived by his wife Janet, his children Amanda and James and his daughter-in-law Leandri.
“It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.” ― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent
Devon Cuimara, Founder Aboriginal Males Healing Centre and friend of the Honourable Stephen Thackray. April 2020
