Symbols of Caxton Legal Centre’s growth and achievements over five decades are on display at the Supreme Court Library.
50 years of Caxton Legal Centre Inc.: stories of justice charts the key projects, cases and achievements of Queensland’s first community legal centre, from a purely volunteer organisation operating out of the old Baroona Hall in Caxton Street, to a bustling hub in Turbot Street employing 90 staff.
Providing free legal and support services to vulnerable people in need remains its core work but it now also provides additional specialist and multidisciplinary services.
Hundreds of volunteers (including its management committee and students) remain the lifeblood of the Brisbane centre.
“Despite our growth and relatively new inner-city location, Caxton proudly remains a rights-based, community-anchored organisation, and we want to celebrate this milestone anniversary in a way that is aligned with our community-centred ethos,” management committee president Kristin Duff said.
“The theme of our 50th celebration is Caxton Connect. We have focused our anniversary year activities on building deeper community connections through a number of low-key events,” Ms Duff said.
“These have been designed specifically to provide an opportunity for people to reflect on Caxton’s contributions to ‘access to justice’ over five decades and to look forward to the work that is ahead.”
The legal heritage display is one of those activities.
“The display draws on Caxton’s archives, photographs and ephemera to point to certain key moments in our history,” Ms Duff said.
“It also highlights a number of milestones, such as the publication of Caxton’s first Legal Resources Book, which has morphed into the Queensland Law Handbook, one of Caxton’s most well-used community legal education publications.
“The display demonstrates elements of justice in practice at Caxton, and, equally, celebrates our volunteers.”
The display is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm, at the Supreme Court Library, Level 12, Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law. It will run until December 14. Entry is free. Visit the library site for more details.
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