Former Queensland Chief Magistrate and social justice activist, Diane Fingleton, will be sharing her life experiences at Bloomhill’s September Motivational Morning Tea on Thursday, 2nd September.
Bloomhill Cancer Help manager of patient care, Anne’ Braaten-Pow said everyone at Bloomhill was really looking forward to Diane’s visit.
A sibling of a large family, Diane Fingleton, grew up in Brisbane, with parts of her earlier life being shown in the 1992 movie ‘Swimming Upstream’, based on a book co-authored with her brother Tony. A devoted social justice advocate, during her career she introduced the first Murri Courts to Brisbane where Indigenous Elders sat with Magistrates when presented with cases regarding indigenous defendants.
Diane recently retired from her Magistrate position at Caloundra where she worked from September 2005 after earlier resigning from her job as Queensland Chief Magistrate. It was not long after she was appointed Chief Magistrate that Diane was prosecuted and jailed for 6 months on a charge that the High Court of Australia later unanimously ‘threw out’ due to a lack of legal basis.
“Diane has such an amazing story and we are so lucky to have her come and share it with us,” Anne’ said.
Bloomhill Cancer Help is a Sunshine Coast based charity that provides support and assistance to people and their loved ones who are affected by cancer. Operated by a team of dedicated professional staff and volunteers, Bloomhill offers emotional support through counselling, support groups, respite care in the home and a range of complimentary therapies and other services.
Anne said the main focus of Bloomhill is to help people to live well with cancer and that the monthly Motivational Morning Teas can give people tools and techniques to achieve this. She said however anyone could come to these morning teas, which allowed the community to also experience what a beautiful place Bloomhill was.
“The morning teas and particularly Diane’s presentation is designed to give people some new perspectives when it comes to developing strengths and self awareness in times faced with challenges and great adversities,” said Anne.
