"Maryborough's" Governor retires

JAY FIELDING

AFTER a lifetime of public service, former Maryborough schoolboy Paul de Jersey has retired.

Mr de Jersey was the Governor of Queensland from 2014 until this week and previously was the Chief Justice of the Queensland Supreme Court from 1998 to 2014.

In the late 1950s, he attended Albert State School where his father, Ronald, was the principal.

He completed his secondary education at the Anglican Church Grammar School before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours at the University of Queensland in 1971.

He was a part of the Queensland University Regiment from 1966 to 1971, and was commissioned in 1969.

Called to the bar in 1971 and appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1981, he practiced in the commercial field of law.

Also in 1971, he married wife Kaye, a librarian, with whom he has three children and three grandchildren.

Mr de Jersey was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1985.

He has been the chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane from 1991 to 2014, was the vice present of the Australian Cancer Society from 1995 to 1998 and president from 1998 to 2001, a trustee of the National Breast Cancer Foundation between 1994 and 1999 and was the chairman of the Queensland Cancer Fund (now the Cancer Council Queensland) from 1994 to 2001.

He was also the chairman of the Law Reform Commission of Queensland from 1996 to 1997.

Mr de Jersey was appointed the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1998.

As chief justice, he was patron of many charitable organisations, including Art from the Margins, the BBC Indigenous Fund and the UQ Pro Bono Law Centre.

In 2000, he was named a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

During his time on the bench, he often returned to Maryborough to preside over cases.

“If there was the prospect of the Supreme Court sitting in Maryborough, I often put my hand up and more often than not, the chief justice let me come here,” Mr de Jersey said.

He also made visits to the Heritage City while he was the governor.

Last year he visited to unveil the second plaque in his honour on the Maryborough Walk of Achievers.

The first plaque honours him as a chief justice, as well as his doctor and scientist brothers.

The second, which is also fittingly outside Maryborough Courthouse, recognises his contribution as governor.

“The place holds many fond memories for me,” he said at the time.

“There are a lot of people who’ve done very well, either living in Maryborough or after they’ve left.

“It must be something in the water.”

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said he was among the many Queenslanders who had been impressed with Mr de Jersey’s work as governor.

“Governor de Jersey has served our state in a most distinguished career as a barrister, supreme court judge, chief justice and governor” Cr Seymour said.

Cr Seymour said that visits by Mr and Mrs de Jersey had all been highly memorable and enjoyable.

Mayor George Seymour accompanies the Governor during a visit to Maryborough. (Supplied) “Governor de Jersey loved to meet with residents on the Fraser Coast and hear about what is happening across the region,”

“They often visited students at Fraser Coast schools.

“As a region we are very proud of Paul de Jersey and the contribution he has made to Queensland.”

In 2018, it was announced Mr de Jersey’s term as governor would be extended to July of this year. It was later extended to November to allow his successor, former chief health officer Jeannette Young, to focus on the coronavirus pandemic and vaccine rollout.

His retirement plans include no more related to the law and, when circumstances allow in the future, travel.

In a farewell video, Mr de Jersey said it had been an amazing experience to meet thousands of Queenslanders and visit many places as governor.

“The whole experience has been, as I’ve said a number of times recently, kaleidoscopic,” he said.

“What would I like to say to Queenslanders on my final day? I love you all.”