Celebrating 50 years
On 13 November 2023, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Southside Justice, formerly St Kilda Legal Service. It was a night filled with cheer, nostalgia and a renewed commitment to the values that have guided Southside Justice through half a century of service.
Having a mix of past and present supporters in the room added a unique energy and depth to the celebration. Particular thanks to Willie Pepper from the Boon Wurrong Foundation for a moving Welcome to Country, Nina Taylor MP for her kind words of recognition and support and Michael D’Argaville for sharing his reflections of working at St Kilda Legal Service in the 1980s.
For 50 years we have played a unique and important role in advancing the rights of people and for social justice. As one of the first community legal centres in Victoria, it was established by a group of passionate volunteers with the goal of enhancing access to justice for people disproportionately affected by systemic inequity.
We were extremely fortunate to be joined by four of the founders last night – Barry Berger, Alan Rochman, Sam Chizik and Joe Katz.
Half a century of unwavering commitment, dedication, and community spirit have brought us to this remarkable milestone, and we want to acknowledge and thank everyone who has been part of our journey.
