29 March 2024

‘Quiet’ parishioner, Supreme Court justice recognised in Australia Day Honours List

Justice Emilios Kyrou. Picture: supplied.

Jenan Taylor

22 February 2023

A judge of the Court of Appeal in the Supreme Court of Victoria was among the Anglicans from the Melbourne diocese named in the 2023 Australia Day Honours List.

The Honourable Emilios Kyrou was made an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia for his distinguished service to the judiciary and to the law, to professional associations, and to the community.

Mr Kyrou who is a parishioner at St John’s East Malvern, also served as an inaugural member on the Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity from 2014 to 2017, and was partner at King and Wood Mallesons from 1990 to 2008.

A patron of the Greek Welfare Society, he was the recipient of the President of Greece’s Gold Cross of the Order of Honour in 2015, and the Greek-Australian Association’s Hellenic Distinction Award in 1982 and 1989.

Read more: Forever young, Surf Coast gran awarded Australia Day honour

Mr Kyrou said he considered his services to the community to be foremost among his contributions.

It was important not just because it was voluntary work, but because assisting the community itself was important, he said.

Mr Kyrou said having a disadvantaged background was what drove his spirit for community service, and that he drew inspiration particularly from the schoolteachers who had been his role models in life.  

“If I can inspire just a few students and young people to persevere with their studies and pursue their careers, when otherwise perhaps they may have had self-doubts and not pursued their goals, that’s extremely rewarding for me,” he said.

Read more: ‘The Rev’ recognised in Australia Day lists

Mr Kyrou also said finding time for his community work was about prioritising what mattered, but that that meant there were trade-offs for him, including not engaging in leisure activities.

St John’s East Malvern vicar the Reverend Dr Alex Ross described Mr Kyrou as being quiet and steadfast in his faith.

Dr Ross also said Mr Kyrou had delivered an insightful presentation to the congregation in 2022 on the intersection between faith and the law, as part of a series on parishioner reflections about how believing connected with other parts of their lives.

“It was about understanding his own faith and of the fascinating ways in which faith has been interwoven into our legal system,” Dr Ross said.

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