Terry Connolly

Terry Connolly
Member of ACT Legislative Assembly
In office
1 May 1990 – 15 February 1992
Member for Molonglo
In office
18 February 1995 – 19 February 1996
Preceded bynew constituency
Succeeded byMarion Reilly
Attorney-General of the Australian Capital Territory
In office
29 May 1991 – 18 February 1995
Preceded byBernard Collaery
Succeeded byGary Humphries
Minister for Housing and Community Services
In office
29 May 1991 – 18 February 1995
Preceded byBernard Collaery
Succeeded byKate Carnell
Minister for Urban Services
In office
15 February 1992 – 18 February 1995
Preceded byCraig Duby
Succeeded byTony De Domenico
Personal details
Born
Terence Connolly

(1958-02-14)14 February 1958
Adelaide, South Australia
Died25 September 2007(2007-09-25) (aged 49)
Canberra
Political partyLabor Party
SpouseDr Helen Watchirs
ChildrenLara and Maddy
Alma materUniversity of Adelaide; Australian National University
ProfessionBarrister, solicitor, politician, judge
[1]

Terence (Terry) Connolly (14 February 1958 – 25 September 2007) was an Australian politician and judge.

Early years

The son of an Irish bricklayer,[2] Connolly was born in Adelaide and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (both with Honours) from the University of Adelaide and a Masters in Public Law from the Australian National University. He was registered to practise as a barrister and solicitor in South Australia in 1982 and worked with Justice John Gallop. He moved to Canberra in 1983 and worked as a legal adviser in the Commonwealth departments of Attorney-General, Veterans' Affairs and Foreign Affairs. He was registered to practise in the Australian Capital Territory in 1985.[3][4]

Career

Connolly joined the Australian Labor Party in 1976 and was elected as South Australian President of Young Labor in 1978; and as National President in 1979.[1]

Connolly became a Labor Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in 1990 on the resignation of Paul Whalan and served as Attorney-General from 1991 to 1995. With the creation of electorates in 1995, he became a member for Molonglo. Connolly also served as Minister for Housing and Community Services from 1991 to 1995 and Minister for Urban Services from 1992 to 1995.[5]

He resigned from the Assembly in February 1996[6] and was appointed Master of the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court. Connolly was appointed a judge of the ACT Supreme Court in January 2003.[3]

Connolly died of a heart attack while cycling atop Red Hill in Canberra;[7] and his family carried out his wishes to donate his organs for the benefit of others.[8] He is survived by his wife, Dr Helen Watchirs, the ACT Human Rights Commissioner and their two daughters; Lara and Maddy.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Members of the First Assembly" (PDF). Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory. September 1990. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  2. ^ Connolly, Terry (31 January 2003). Speech given by Justice Connolly (PDF) (Speech). Ceremonial Sitting. Canberra: Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Biography – Justice Terrence Connolly". Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
  4. ^ a b Alexander, Cathy (27 September 2007). "Tears flow as judge farewelled". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 10 September 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
  5. ^ "Members of the Second Assembly" (PDF). Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory. April 1993. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Casual Vacancy in the third Legislative Assembly". ACT Electoral Commission. 23 December 2002. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
  7. ^ "ACT judge dies of heart attack". AAP. 25 September 2007. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
  8. ^ "Terry Connolly". Gift of Life Incorporated. Retrieved 4 December 2013.