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

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

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

Can I Move Away With My Child? Relocation Law in Australia

Relocation cases sit among the most difficult parenting disputes in Australian family law. They usually arise when one parent wants to move with a child, or has already moved, in a way that reduces the other parent’s time or involvement. That move might be to another suburb, another regional town, another state, or overseas. These… Read More »Can I Move Away With My Child? Relocation Law in Australia

Who is a Parent By Stephen Page

The question sounds simple. Who is a parent? In law, it is anything but simple. Biology matters. Birth matters. Intention matters. Paperwork matters. State law matters. Federal law matters. Sometimes they line up neatly. Sometimes they collide in ways that leave families, lawyers and government departments wrestling with very uncomfortable uncertainty. That is especially true… Read More »Who is a Parent By Stephen Page

Posthumous Conception in Victoria: Retrieval, Consent, and the Law

Posthumous conception cases in Victoria sit at the intersection of grief, medicine, and strict statutory rules. They are deeply personal matters, but they are also highly technical. Timing matters. Consent matters. Process matters. And one of the hardest truths for families is that retrieving eggs, sperm, or embryos is often easier than being legally allowed… Read More »Posthumous Conception in Victoria: Retrieval, Consent, and the Law

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