'A great bloke and real person': Legal fraternity mourns prominent barrister Brian Harrison

Prominent Queensland judge Brian Harrison has been remembered as an “all around great bloke and real person” with an undying passion for the law and many “great stories to tell”.

Judge Brian Harrison, a former Mackay barrister, sadly passed away on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Sarah Marshall

PROMINENT Queensland judge Brian Harrison has been remembered as an “all around great bloke and real person” with an undying passion for the law and many “great stories to tell”.

The retired District Court judge sadly died on Wednesday afternoon from ill health.

“It was just a privilege to call him a mate,” Tim Mulherin said.

The former Mackay MP and current Mackay Hospital and Health Service chair first met Judge Harrison, well known as “Harro” to his mates, over a cold beer during his first stint in Mackay about 40 years ago.

“Harro the matchmaker,” Mr Mulherin said, recalling how it was Judge Harrison who first introduced him to his now wife Erin on a Friday afternoon at the Criterion Hotel in Rockhampton.

“I’ll always be indebted to Harro for the introduction.”

Born in Brisbane to Tony and Marie Harrison in 1950 and the eldest of four siblings, Judge Harrison was the first in his family to attend university, where he studied law.

Judge Brian Harrison (centre) will be mourned by the Mackay legal community. PICTURE: JANESSA EKERT

“He had all these great stories to tell about his life experiences,” Mr Mulherin said.

“And because of his life experiences, he dished out justice with compassion.”

Mr Mulherin said his friend’s working-class background shaped his values and experiences as a lawyer.

Judge Harrison worked in Cairns, Mount Isa and Mackay as a solicitor before he was admitted to the bar in 1986.

Mr Mulherin said Judge Harrison first practised in Rockhampton, where he “honed his craft and was considered one of the top barristers for Central Queensland”, before his love of Mackay brought him back to the region in 1991, where he specialised in personal injury, commercial and criminal cases.

He practised as a barrister in Mackay for 19 years until he was called to the bench in the Cairns District Court in February 2010.

Judge Brian Harrison Picture: Sarah Marshall

“Not only was he well thought of by his peers, when he was appointed that was a testament to his skills and legal knowledge,” Mr Mulherin said.

“And when he was elevated to the bench in 2010 he never lost that common touch with people.

“He kept those friendships he’d developed over many, many years.”

Despite the move to Cairns, Mr Mulherin said Judge Harrison would always try to work a trip to Mackay into his sittings, especially around St Patrick’s Day.

The pair shared a keen interest in race horses and Mr Mulherin said Judge Harrison served on the board of Harrup Park Country Club for a time.

Mr Mulherin said Judge Harrison was also quite vocal about his “love/hate relationship with the Aussie cricket team” and was a fierce proponent of social justice.

“He raised the issues around over representation of vulnerable people in the legal system … he felt it was a revolving door … and there needed to be a great emphasis on resources to assist those vulnerable people,” Mr Mulherin said.

Ill health meant Judge Harrison retired earlier than expected, leaving the District Court last year.

“He will be sadly missed by many … he was just an all around great bloke and real person,” Mr Mulherin said.

“He always had wise counsel, he was really one of the hardest working judges.”

Originally published as 'A great bloke and real person': Legal fraternity mourns prominent barrister Brian Harrison