“I always wanted to be a criminal lawyer and I certainly achieved that goal,” explained Ralph Devlin AM KC the guest speaker at this month’s Tewantin Noosa Probus Club meeting.
“During the 1980s, corruption had sprung to nearly every rung of the police ladder,” Ralph said.
“I spent five years of my life assisting Tony Fitzgerald QC, searching our entire state for evidence of illegal activities, of crime bosses, politicians and police corruption involving illegal gambling and prostitution.
“It had a huge impact on me personally. My own life was on the line, on many occasions.
“When I first started working on the Fitzgerald Enquiry, I was a young bachelor. Five years later, I was married with three children. To avoid our wedding becoming a media circus, we were married in Melbourne.“
The Fitzgerald Inquiry led to the resignation of Queensland’s Premier, Joh Bjelke Petersen, the jailing of Police Commissioner, Terry Lewis, who was also stripped of his knighthood. It forced two by-elections and the jailing of three former ministers.
“On a more positive note, it also led to the establishment of Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission charged with combatting and reducing major crime and corruption in the public sector,” Ralph said.
Fighting crime was not Ralph’s only passion. He is truly a man of all seasons. He also dedicated 50 years to surf life saving. He was president of Surf Life Saving Queensland from 2011 to 2016 and deputy president of Life Saving Australia from 2013 to 2016.
In 2016, Ralph was awarded an Order of Australia for his services to Surf Life Saving and the Law.
Currently, Ralph is board chair of the Sunshine Coast Chamber Music festival which takes place in June each year.
“One of the many goals of SCCMF is to introduce new audiences to chamber music whilst reflecting the personality of the Sunshine Coast and celebrating our natural beauty, culture and lifestyle,” Ralph said.
At the Tewantin Noosa Probus Club’s meeting on Tuesday 27 August, Ralph will speak about his 50 years in Queensland’s criminal courts. The meeting will commence with morning tea at 10am followed by Ralph’s fascinating talk at 10.30am.
Visitors are welcome. There is a small charge of $6 to cover costs plus a delicious morning tea. If you would like to hear Ralph’s astounding story, phone Christine on 5442 7397 to book your place.
