Michael Kirby marries partner Johan van Vloten on 50th anniversary of first meeting
Wednesday February 13, 2019

Michael Kirby marries partner Johan van Vloten on 50th anniversary of first meeting

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

On Monday, Australian gay icon and retired High Court Judge Michael Kirby married his partner of 50 years Johan van Vloten.  Only for the last year have they been able to marry legally in Australia.
I offer them my heartiest congratulations.  Love is love, after all and their love is enduring.
For a history of their relationship, check out this ABC article.  
I learned of their wedding on Monday when I was at court.  I was appearing for a gay couple who were seeking a surrogacy parentage order in their favour.  To my amazement, one of the first things that the judge said (and he addressed my clients) was about the wedding.  His Honour then went on to say that hearing those types of applications was the best part of his job. 
I then mentioned that the child was named after the son and air.  For the first time that I can ever recall in over 30 years of being in a courtroom, the musical Hair was cited.  His Honour noted that one of the first dates undertaken by Michael Kirby and Johan van Vloten was to see Hair in Sydney and that of course one of its songs is “Let the Sun Shine In”.
The magic of that wedding between Michael Kirby and Johan van Vloten extended to that court hearing in Brisbane.  What a joy!
Request an Appointment
Fill in the form below to find out if you have a claim.
Request an Appointment - Stephen Page
Things to Read, Watch & Listen
International Surrogacy Statistics: Australia Hits Record

International Surrogacy Births Hit a New Record

For every child born through surrogacy in Australia, around five children born overseas through surrogacy now apply for Australian citizenship by descent. That is the picture emerging from the latest figures discussed here. It is a striking comparison, even allowing for the fact that the domestic and international figures measure different things. In the year… Read More »International Surrogacy Births Hit a New Record

Surrogacy Law Reform Australia: What's Next After ALRC?

Surrogacy law reform: what’s next after the ALRC inquiry

The Australian Law Reform Commission’s surrogacy inquiry could be an important moment for Australian families. Its report has been delivered to the Commonwealth Attorney-General and is due to be tabled in federal parliament. The question is not simply what the report recommends. It is whether Australia’s nine governments will work together to turn those recommendations… Read More »Surrogacy law reform: what’s next after the ALRC inquiry

MRKH syndrome: how surrogacy can help you become a parent

MRKH syndrome: how surrogacy can help you become a parent

MRKH syndrome means being born without a uterus. It does not mean that parenthood is impossible. For women with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, often shortened to MRKH, the journey to understanding their body can begin at a young age. Many discover in their early teenage years, commonly around 14 or 15, that they will not be able… Read More »MRKH syndrome: how surrogacy can help you become a parent

Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board