Mr Derek Ian Cassidy QC (Fr 1950)
1931 – 2022
The Principal, Council and St Andrew’s College community honour the life of Derek Ian Cassidy QC (Fr 1950) who passed away peacefully at Dudley Hospital in Orange with his daughters Edwena & Belinda holding his hands.
Derek entered St Andrew’s in 1950, matriculating from The Scots College to study Arts, and Law. He literally threw himself into College life – his Valedictory statement released from the archives reveals that he “burst upon Andrew’s in 1950 armed with bagpipes, kilt, horn-rimmed glasses, evil-smelling pipe and tobacco”. He played football, golf, tennis and athletics, steered a College crew, was a great force behind the debating team, and discovered the joys of dramatic performance in College plays.
It was on the dramatic stage where he made perhaps his greatest impact in College, starring in the Revues of 1951 and 1952, at a time when interest in and support for the dramatic arts led to the formation of the College’s Dramatic Society, or DramSoc as it became known. Derek was a foundation member of the Society, formed at its inaugural meeting in July 1953. He tabled a draft constitution which was accepted by the members present, and so the Society was born. He starred as Dolittle in the Society’s first production, Pygmalion, which was staged in Sydney and Adelaide in 1953 to national acclaim, and as the irascible Tony in She Stoops to Conquer in 1954. The College was delighted to welcome Derek back in 2013 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of this much-loved society.
Derek left St Andrew’s in 1954, and was admitted into practice in 1955. He was appointed QC in 1980. He retired from active practice in 2008 at age 77, having completed 53 years at the bar, initially at Selborne Chambers, and then at Latham Chambers after he took silk.
He was the long-standing chairman of the Medicare Participation Review Committee from 1975-2006, a member of the Serious Offenders Review Board (then Council) from 1990-1996 and President of the Medico-Legal Society of NSW 1980-1982. He was a former President of the Woollahra branch of the Liberal Party.
Derek was the distinguished author of books on legal practice. In 1996 he co-authored with Evan Lewis, Tenancy Law in New South Wales. He originally co-authored with Michael Redfern Australian Tenancy Practice and Precedents in 1986, and in 2017, his work was re-written as Australian Tenancy Law and Practice with co-author Brian Ralston. As recently as 2020 he co-authored an advice on the effect of COVID-19 on retail and residential tenancies in NSW.
Derek married Elaine Hirstman at St. Swithun's Church, Pymble in 1961. The couple met at a bridge table during a blizzard that stopped all skiing in Thredbo, and they shared a life-long interest in bridge until Elaine’s passing in 2014. Derek is survived by daughters Edwena and Belinda, grand-children Jennifer, Edward and Rosie, and great-grandchildren Lucy, Ella, Jock and Audrey.
Derek was elected to the College Council in 1971, and served until 1997. He was elected Chairman in 1985-86, and was an important source of professional advice in all of the College’s intricate negotiations with the Presbyterian Church and the University in repealing and replacing the St Andrew’s College’s founding Act of NSW parliament in 1998. His legal experience was also invaluable in providing support to College officers in dealing fairly with incidences of serious misconduct. In this the 20th year of undergraduate women in St Andrew’s, it is worth recording that Derek was a staunch supporter, and an influential advocate, for the admission of women into residence in St Andrew’s.
The College was never far from his thoughts for most of Derek’s adult life. He was a member of the College Foundation and of the 1867 Circle, and we were delighted to welcome him and Belinda to our reunion event in Orange only a fortnight ago.
The Cassidy family is held strongly in our thoughts and our dearest sympathy is extended to all who knew Derek.
Derek’s funeral will be held on Monday 23 May 2022 at Holy Trinity Church in Orange at 11am.
1953 Pygmalion (Derek Cassidy as Dolittle on the right)
The 2022 Orange Reunion Dinner - Derek is first on the left
1950 SAC Whole College photo
