A barrister’s tribute and call to action
Longtime QBI supporter Matthew Hickey OAM KC wrote a moving article in Queensland’s leading journal of the Bar Association Hearsay reflecting on the profound impact of dementia. The piece was sparked by the forced retirement of a close friend and colleague due to dementia.
Matthew is inspired by Robyn Hilton, who has turned her grief into purpose by supporting dementia research at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute home of Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR). Robyn lost her husband, retired Family Court judge Peter Hilton, to Alzheimer's disease in 2011. Her commitment led to a decade of fundraising through the annual QBI Lexus Alzheimer’s Sunset Soiree, which will be held this year on Saturday, 26 July.
Matthew’s piece highlights how dementia, while rarely discussed within the legal profession, is a growing concern – especially given its links to stress and cognitive strain, both common in high-pressure fields like law.
At the heart of his article is a call to action: for barristers and others to support dementia research and consider backing a cause that safeguards the very tool legal professionals rely on most – the mind.
To support dementia research by attending this year’s event, visit the QBI Lexus Alzheimer’s Sunset Soiree.