Alex Freeleagus
Encyclopedia
Alexander Christy Freeleagus AO
CBE
AM(Mil) RFD AE DUniv (1928 – 3 June 2005) was born in Brisbane
, Queensland
, Australia
to Greek Orthodox parents. His father Christy Freeleagus was the Honorary Consul
of Greece
in Queensland
a role which Alex assumed upon his father's death in 1957.
In his role as Consul and later Consul-General for Greece, Freeleagus contributed greatly to the development and success of the Greek Community in Queensland, he was one of the founders of Brisbane's Panniyri (Greek Festival). In the address made by the Archbishop
of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia
at Alex's funeral, he was described as exhibiting a meeting of "the two cultures" Greek and Australian.
Alex was also a senior Brisbane Lawyer
, serving Henderson Lahey, then Henderson Trout, and later Clayton Utz
as a Senior Partner. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of Griffith University
in 1999 for his service to the Legal Community and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1995 for his services to the Greek Community.
Alex died on 3 June 2005 whilst snorkelling off Heron Island, Queensland
. His funeral, held on 10 June 2005 at the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, Brisbane was attended by many Australian politicians, diplomats and members of the legal community.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
AM(Mil) RFD AE DUniv (1928 – 3 June 2005) was born in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to Greek Orthodox parents. His father Christy Freeleagus was the Honorary Consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
a role which Alex assumed upon his father's death in 1957.
In his role as Consul and later Consul-General for Greece, Freeleagus contributed greatly to the development and success of the Greek Community in Queensland, he was one of the founders of Brisbane's Panniyri (Greek Festival). In the address made by the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at Alex's funeral, he was described as exhibiting a meeting of "the two cultures" Greek and Australian.
Alex was also a senior Brisbane Lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, serving Henderson Lahey, then Henderson Trout, and later Clayton Utz
Clayton Utz
Clayton Utz is a leading commercial law firm in Australia. It is considered one of the Big Six commercial law firms.-Legal services:The firm provides legal services in banking and finance, capital markets and securities, competition, compliance, construction and projects, corporate / M&A,...
as a Senior Partner. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of Griffith University
Griffith University
Griffith University is a public, coeducational, research university located in the southeastern region of the Australian state of Queensland. The university has five satellite campuses located in the Gold Coast, Logan City and in the Brisbane suburbs of Mount Gravatt, Nathan and South Bank. Current...
in 1999 for his service to the Legal Community and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1995 for his services to the Greek Community.
Alex died on 3 June 2005 whilst snorkelling off Heron Island, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. His funeral, held on 10 June 2005 at the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, Brisbane was attended by many Australian politicians, diplomats and members of the legal community.