Henric Nicholas QC, a prominent Sydney barrister, Supreme Court judge, community and cultural avatar, and one of life’s enlargers, died on Saturday after complications set in following a major operation. He was 79.

Medium in height, fit with a fresh complexion resulting from a Spartan regime of marathon running, friendly but low-key, Nicholas was old-fashioned in the best sense of that word. He gave more than he took, talked about others more than himself, and was courteous and considerate to a fault.