Patrick Street, an Old Paradian who served for almost 20 years as a Victorian Magistrate, has been recognised for his achievements in the Australia Day 2021 Honours List.

Patrick, who completed his Intermediate year in 1958, was awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division for service to the law and to the community.

A Clerk of Courts from the time he left the ‘Old Bluestone Pile’ through to 1981, Patrick later served as Magistrate from 1981 through to 1999; and as Deputy Chief Magistrate for a five-year period from 1995.

A former Secretary and Member of the Victorian Magistrates’ Association, Patrick’s love for the law saw him contribute as its Journal Editor (1983-1986) and as Editor of the Magistrates’ Information Bulletin (1995-1999).

He also founded Monthly ‘Letters of the Law’ Cryptic Crossword; was co-author of The Health Act Victoria, Law Book Co, 1983; and established MagistratesCases.com.au (mid-2000s) – a website resource with access to over 2500 specialised case reports in electronic format.

Patrick also served as President of the Australian Crossword Club; and Editor and Publisher of CrOZworld magazine.

Patrick effectively pursued his legal career from the outset after gaining passes at Parade in English Expression, English Literature, Latin, French, General Science A and General Science B.

In a previous interview for newlayerlanguage.com, Patrick talked about studying law part-time at Melbourne University whilst a Clerk of Courts - and it's history now that he graduated from Melbourne with an LLB in 1976 and a Diploma in Criminology in 1980 and in 1976 was admitted to practise as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

As he said: “I wanted to get onto the bench as a Magistrate”. “I didn’t particularly want to leave the job and become a solicitor or a lawyer, I wanted to get on the bench," he said. "I’ve been in the courts a lot being a clerk of courts, so it meant I was facing the lawyers and barristers, and I did the same thing when I was on the bench, I faced the lawyers. So I’ve never been in Court where I’ve faced the Magistrate. I can’t really say if I would have enjoyed being a lawyer, because I’ve never done it.”

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