University of Tasmania, Australia

The Hon Michael Kirby, AC CMG, delivered the inaugural Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Lecture - My Journey with Social Justice –on Monday 2 May.

The lecture officially launched the Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Fund and outlined Michael Kirby’s experiences with social justice.

In June 2010, Tasmanian lawyer Alexander (Sandy) Duncanson died at the age of 37, after surviving cancer for sixteen years. Sandy was widely respected for his work in the community legal and housing sectors. A fund has been established in his name, which will grant a bursary each year to a UTAS student to advance a social justice project.

Associate Professor Rick Snell of the UTAS Faculty of Law said it’s fitting that Michael Kirby - former High Court judge and international leader in law reform and human rights - will launch this important fund.

"Law is a double edged sword - it can liberate and help people but it can also marginalise and squash those who encounter it,” said Associate Professor Snell.

“Sandy Duncanson was dedicated to ensuring that social justice was not a forgotten goal of the legal system. The lecture and fund in Sandy’s honour will encourage future generations to further his dedication to social justice.’

Dr Natasha Cica, Director of the Inglis Clark Centre for Civil Society at UTAS, - which has worked with the Faculty of Law, the UTAS Foundation and Sandy’s family and friends to establish the fund – emphasised Sandy’s commitment to living his values. 

“Gandhi famously said, be the change you want to see in the world,” said Dr Cica.

 “Sandy certainly followed that example, and in turn his life will inspire many others to act with generosity and responsibility.”