From little things big things grow. How true it is.
I was filled with an enormous sense of pride recently when I drove past one of the giant Griffith University billboards (pictured above) celebrating the success of young Brisbane Barrister Joshua Creamer, a former member of the Nyst team.
In 2010, when Nyst Lawyers established its scholarship programme for young indigenous lawyers, designed to fast-track indigenous graduates towards the cutting edge of the profession in Queensland, Josh Creamer became the first recipient of that scholarship. An accomplished young Wannyi and Kalkadoon man from North Queensland, Josh had already distinguished himself by taking out the Griffith University’s Rubin Hurricane Carter Award for Commitment to Social Justice in 2008, and later serving as Associate to the late Justice Peter Dutney of the Queensland Supreme Court in 2009. After completing his legal training at Nyst Lawyers in 2011 he was admitted to practice as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland, and has since established a thriving national practice specialising in native title, commercial and family law. In 2013 he was named the Griffith University Outstanding Arts, Education and Law Young Alumnus of the Year. Later in the same year he became a member of the Advisory Board of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation, and in 2014 he was appointed to the national Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council.
He has done us proud indeed.
Meanwhile, following hard on the heels of Joshua’s remarkable achievements is Nyst Legal’s current indigenous scholarship holder Matthew Jackson, another young Kalkadoon man originally from the Mt Isa region of the Gulf Country in north-west Queensland. Following his family’s re-location to the Gold Coast Matt served as School Captain of the Coombabah State High School before commencing his legal studies at Bond University. Later this year, after completing two years with the Nyst team, Matt will graduate in Law and International Relations (Business) at Bond University, before commencing as an Associate to His Honour Judge Long of the District Court. With that invaluable experience behind him we hope to welcome him back to the Nyst team in 2016.
Leading by the shining example of their own success, outstanding young indigenous Australians like Josh and Matt will make an invaluable contribution to the changing fabric of Australian society, changing attitudes, opening doors and creating opportunity for all Australians. More power to them.
