In legal circles he is referred to — in extremely respectful terms — as "The Undertaker". In the art world he is known as an astute and passionate lover of Australian paintings. Ian Callinan, QC, has achieved high honour in many fields.
Back in the 1950s, as a 188cm, 102kg athlete, his profile was almost as high at Grammar. As a young lad in his second year as Captain of the First XI in 1955, he took seven wickets for 51 against Churchie to help clinch successive premierships. He also played for the First XV as a Lock — his selection in the First XV is one of his "most striking memories" of Grammar ("It ended 3-all in the wet" against Terrace).
He recalls his Grammar days "as very busy" — "I studied eight subjects — the main two were cricket and football." He names cricket coach Oliver Bell as a great influence ("He treated me almost as an equal") and Newell, the deputy Head and his form master ("about six feet six inches tall — we called him Shorty… a fierce disciplinarian").
He was admitted to the Bar in 1965 ("I felt working at the Bar would give me more scope for individualism… I was definitely not motivated by money"). Made a silk in 1978. In 1985, the still relatively unknown QC was chosen — from Queensland — to lead the Crown case in Sydney against High Court Judge the late Mr Lionel Murphy, charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice (Murphy was committed for trial and convicted, later acquitted on appeal). Facing Ian at the committal was one of Australia's top silks, Mr Alec Shand, QC. Another success was the prosecution of "bottom of the harbour" personality Brian Maher; at the time of the Murphy hearings Ian was president of both the Australian and Queensland Bar Associations and chairman of the TAB board.
On the law: "I have strong views that the High Court should not be adopting a quasi-legislature role such as Sir Anthony Mason had been advocating… The other thing which concerns me is the establishment of all these tribunals… they are making decisions which should be made by the courts."
On art: "I have to admit it (collecting paintings) is an incurable disease for me." His collection, begun as an articled clerk in 1958, has ranged from Frederick McCubbin to Brett Whiteley. He denies selling his collection to finance the play he wrote (Brazilian Blue, performing at the Twelfth Night theatre complex).
Ian's family: wife Wendy (an accomplished dressage rider); son Rory, a BGS Old Boy, in journalism; daughter Fiona, a Brisbane Girls' Grammar Old Girl who followed her father into law.
Source: Old School Ties 1995 Vol 1 No 1. Read the full edition