The Dubbo District Court has paused to reflect on the passing of two former judges, who dedicated their lives to the pursuit of justice for all Australians.
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On Friday members of Dubbo's Aboriginal and legal communities gathered to remember a trailblazer for Indigenous justice John Halden 'Hal' Wootten and a "gentleman's gentleman" District Court Judge Harry Bell.
Former Supreme Court Judge, Emeritus Professor Hal Wootten was widely known for his role co-founding Australia's first Aboriginal Legal Service in 1970, which broke new ground as the country's first free community legal service of any kind.
He was also the founding dean of the Faculty of Law and Justice at the University of NSW.
Professor Wootten passed away on July 27 at the age of 98.
Days later, the legal community lost another, with the passing of former District Court Judge Harry Bell on July 31 at the age of 95.
To honour their contributions, District Court Judge Nanette Williams paused proceedings to hear from members of the legal and Aboriginal communities whose lives were touched by both men.
Local Aboriginal Legal Service administration officer, Leeanne Wright spoke of her lasting impression of Prof Wootten, who she met while he was one of the commissioners leading the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody from 1987 to 1991.
"He was a great man, he had this presence about him," she said.
"Even though it was so short, that meeting has stayed with me for life."
Dubbo's 'Riverbank' Frank Doolan reflected on his friend he called the "lawman", and the "enormous contribution" and wider role Prof Wootten made on himself and the Indigenous community.
Mr Doolan said he met Prof Wootten through his wife Gail Cowlishaw at a function at Tranby Indigenous College in Glebe.
"The Hal Wootten I knew, was a kind, gentle man. His strength to me was in his enormous strength of character," he said.
He said it was people like Prof Wootten, and the birth of the Aboriginal Legal Service that made him believe in "an Australia where we could all be equal".
"Before it came into being, there were few if any black organisations, certainly not organisations which were recognised and funded by government," Mr Doolan said.
He was a great man, he had this presence about him
- Leeanne Wright
"Once the [Aboriginal] Legal Service came into being, other black organisations, housing co-ops etc sprung up nation-wide. So you can see from those events, and judge for yourself, the part Hal Wootten and supporters like him have played in our black struggle.
"The formation of our legal service was a combined effort between blacks and whites. I don't know how well that fact is celebrated these days, but I would say to my people, that a great man, a brother, a friend, and a champion for all Australians has gone from our midst and all of us in so many ways are diminished."
During his life, Prof Wootten also served as president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, and chairman of the Australian Press Council, and Australian Law Reform Commission.
Dubbo mayor Stephen Lawrence acknowledged the contributions Prof Wootten made through his legal work, to uphold human rights, not only in Australia, but in places like Papua New Guinea and Palestine.
"Hal lived not just a long life, but a life of long engagement and accomplishment," Cr Lawrence said.
Senior NSW Crown prosecutor Christopher Maxwell appeared via audio-visual link, and described Prof Wootten as a "titan" of legal education.
He said the law was Prof Wootten's great passion, and he would be a "great loss" to not only the legal community, but the entire nation.
"Central to his professional life was to seek justice for the disadvantaged," Mr Maxwell said.
Mr Maxwell also reflected on his second cousin, Mr Bell who similarly had lived a life of service to others as a "great judge".
Mr Bell went to a public school in Wee Waa before heading off to boarding school in Sydney at Newington College. He later volunteered to serve in New Guinea during World War II.
Mr Maxwell said Mr Bell had completed several law subjects while serving overseas.
"His life was filled with service to his country," he said.
After starting out as a solicitor in 1952, Mr Maxwell said by 1996 Mr Bell was the most senior judge in the NSW District Court, and well known for his "fine legal mind".
Judge Williams said Mr Bell was known as "gentleman's gentleman" who ran a court that was "courteous" and as "stress-free" as possible for all involved.
She said he was held in such high regard, that an advocate recalled visiting cells in Darlinghurst and seeing "Judge Bell is a gentleman" written on the wall.