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Legal legend honoured on stamp

user iconLawyers Weekly 21 January 2011 NewLaw

A pioneering female lawyer has been honoured by Australia Post as an Australian Legend.Elizabeth Evatt, the first chief judge of the Family Court of Australia, was named as one of four…

A pioneering female lawyer has been honoured by Australia Post as an Australian Legend.

Elizabeth Evatt, the first chief judge of the Family Court of Australia, was named as one of four "Australian Legends" by Australia Post.

To coincide with Australia Day, the Australia Post Australian Legends Award acknowledges significant contributions by individuals across a range of areas.

In addition to Evatt, this year's awards honour Eva Cox, Germaine Greer and Anne Summers as leading lights for the advancement of gender equality.

"These passionate individuals have worked tirelessly to champion the rights of women and they continue to campaign against obstacles that women still face today," Australia Post managing director and CEO Ahmed Fahour said.

All four women will appear on stamps.

Evatt was the first female appointment to a number of positions during her long legal career.

She was the first female deputy president of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, the first female to preside over an Australian federal court and the first woman to win Sydney University's Medal for Law in 1955.

Evatt also served as the president of the Australian Law Reform Commission between 1988 and 1993, and was a member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of the Discrimination Against Women between 1984 and 1992.

Previous recipients of the Australian Legends Award include Donald Bradman, Slim Dusty, Gustav Nossal and Dame Joan Sutherland.

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