It is no surprise that Townsville-based lawyer Mark Fenlon is passionate about regional Queensland as a Senior Prosecutor with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (Northern Region).
He is also the Queensland Law Society representative to the Law Council of Australia’s Regional, Rural and Remote Lawyers Committee and a former President of the Townsville District Law Association.
But he was still a little surprised to receive the Regional Practitioner of the Year Award at the QLS Excellence in Law Awards on Saturday night at Brisbane’s City Hall.
“I was reasonably unprepared given that I saw the quality of the other finalists. I did not expect to win this,” Mark told the Brisbane audience. “I hope I can live up to the evolved notion that Libbi (Gorr the emcee) just put up, so I will try.
“I am very grateful to adopt and repeat the comments of Miss Elizabeth Shearer (Agnes McWhinney Award winner).
“If you have the opportunity get on the Law Council of Australia’s website and have a look at the National Legal Assistance Partnership response, have a look at the position papers, asking to use $70,000 HECS and HELP debts to incentivize young lawyers to go and work in regional and rural Australia.
“If you get the opportunity, please speak to your Senators, your MPs, your members of parliament because it’s not just an access to justice issue, it’s a human rights issue.”
Mark said he had a lot of people to thank you but much not time to do so.
“I do want to acknowledge the wonderful people at Pride in Law for helping put on a wonderful event for my students earlier this year and James Cook University,” he said.
“I’d like to acknowledge my employer, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, for giving me the time, the support and they have actually embraced my extra-curricular activities, so I greatly appreciate that.
“Lastly I’d like to acknowledge my wife Maxine, who actually works for the firm that produced Agnes McWhinney. She is the senior lawyer in our household and I am very, very grateful for her support.”
Mark is also a member of the QLS Wellbeing Working Group and a sessional lecturer at James Cook University.
Pride in Law, Australia’s National LGBTIQA+ Law Association, also presented its top individual award at the gala for the second successive year.
Each year, the Pride in Law Award recognises and rewards outstanding contribution and commitment to the practice of LGBTIQA+ inclusion in the legal profession in Queensland. 
Christopher Peppel with Rebecca Fogerty and PIL
President Duncan McDougall.
Christopher Peppel from Carter Newell received the award and he thanked Pride in Law for “everything that you do in encouraging the profession to bring their entire selves to their profession. It really makes us better lawyers, and it helps us service our clients better”.
Christopher is a Senior Associate in Carter Newell’s General Liability team. He currently leads this firm’s internal LGBTIQ+ network, PRIDE @ CN.
Under his leadership, PRIDE @ CN has driven awareness and understanding of queer issues and perspectives.
Christopher has led the implementation of a range of educational programs and initiatives including regular training sessions and workshops aimed at educating staff about LGBTIQ+ issues.
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