Valete

Mr Kingsley Davis OAM has been a member of The Graduate Union since 1st September, 1966 - he had thus been a member for 57 years. As he explained to other Members, his reason for joining, he saw immediately the value in paying just a few guineas - which was a lot for that time - to become a Life Member just after his graduation with a law degree. He thence was admitted to the legal profession in 1967 and signed the Victorian Bar Roll in 1969. Given his significant governance and legal experience,The Graduate Union invited Kingsley to become a Councillor in 2011. With elections in the following year (2012) he was then elected to Council by the international graduate membership of this incorporated association.

Kingsley gave generously to this organisation his time, expertise and experience. He provided probono legal guidance on several significant and major issues since his appointment to Council and this has greatly assisted in not only addressing these matters for the benefit of our members (both resident and non-resident) and the organisation (particularly in improving governance standards) but also in minimising our legal expenses - something that is particularly important as The Graduate Union is a charitable not-for-profit agency.

Among the positions Kingsley held on Council included Chair of the Membership and Marketing subcommittee from 2012-2015. In this role he provided inspirational leadership which saw benefits to the organisation in terms of improved membership services and numbers. He gave very generously of his time to this role and was always available to our many members to hear and address their concerns.

Kingsley was nominated Vice Chair of Council of Graduate Union in 2016-2017; and was Chair of the Governance and Nominations subcommittee from 2015-2018. In his role, he contributed particularly to the major change of rules.

His great contribution to The Graduate Union is all the more remarkable when we learned of his other heavy workloads for other organisations at that time:

• working full time as a Barrister at the Victorian bar, providing also tutorial support for up and coming Barristers;

• providing pro-bono legal services support in St Kilda every Thursday evening;

• contributing to the Scouting Association every Tuesday night and to weekend training retreats for Scout Leaders three to four times a year.

Kingsley was awarded Medal (OAM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia on Australia Day 2015 for service to the community through youth and heritage organisations, and to the law.

At the 2022 Chairman’s cocktail party, a special award was presented to Kingsley (in absentia) in recognition of exemplary service to The Graduate Union.

Our deepest condolences to the family of Kingsley Davis OAM. Rest in peace.

Kingsley was admitted to the Bar in 1969 and practised almost exclusively in Family Law and Commercial Law with great distinction. He achieved the rare distinction of being in practice for more than 50 years.

Kingsley had three readers: Patricia Hudson, Maurice Gland and Angela Lee and was always available to give advice and guidance to younger practitioners in his areas of practice when approached.

He had two children: Sheldon and Carolyn and two grandchildren who were a source of ongoing pride and delight to him.

Kingsley was also a man who contributed very substantially in a number of respects – in his own local community; in the Scouting movement – as to which he achi eved high distinction in his own right as well as being an essential and contributing member of the administration for many years , and in areas of law of a pro bono nature as well as his membership of various standing committees in areas of interest.

These included the Court Procedures Reform Committee, the Crime Practice Committee, the Juries Practice Committee, and the Causes Practice Committee.

He was essentially a quiet and self -effacing man with an extensive knowledge of the areas and procedures applicable to the areas in which he practised.

For many years, Kingsley ran the Family Court moot segment of the Readers ’ Course with real ability.

On one occasion, two misguided readers stole his registry stamp to facilitate an argument for an adjournment on the basis that there were no filed documents to which the court could refer. Kingsley simply smiled benignly and kept the miscreants on their feet for two hours discussing inherent jurisdiction and the various discretions available under the Family Law Act.

He later observed that "he had thoroughly enjoyed himself, and that he was confident that the offenders had learned a great deal more law than they had ever wished to".

Kingsley was an able and well-prepared advocate who enjoyed the respect of both his col leagues and the benches before whom he appeared.

The recognition conferred upon him by the award of the OAM was richly justified.

Source https://www.vicbar.com.au/news-events/vale-%E2%80%94-r-kingsley-davis-oam