rosalind-croucher

About

Oboe/ Cor Anglais

AYO: 1974

Professor Rosalind Croucher AM enjoys ‘engaging with the way laws happen in the world’ in her role as President of the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC). In 2014 Rosalind was named one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence in the Australian Financial Review and Westpac awards; she has also received the Australian Women Lawyers’ Award and a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the law as an academic, to legal reform and education, to professional development and to the arts. Rosalind’s many additional achievements include several honorary fellowships, extensive lecturing and publishing credits and numerous pro-bono leadership roles with institutions such as St Andrews’ College and the Council of Australian Law Deans.

Q&A

Question: What do you find exciting about your work with the ALRC?

Answer My work is so diverse – my role as Commissioner-in-charge of law reform inquiries has encompassed family violence, disability, secrecy, elder abuse and more. I’m constantly liaising with new stakeholders across the country which involves engagement with government and parliamentary processes and essentially taking part in democracy. I love what I do.

Question: Are you still involved in music?

Answer Yes, I have two musical outlets to satisfy the ‘musical desperate’ inside – you can’t take the musician out of the lawyer. I sing in the Bar Choir, comprising mainly barristers and judges; we’ve performed at the opening of Law Term, for judges and lawyers conferences, etc. I also play oboe and recorder with a flautist barrister friend. I love the sound and register of the recorder and the harmonics between flute and recorder are mind-blowing.

Question: What do you remember most vividly about your time with AYO?

Answer We played the <i>William Tell</i> Overture and I had a major solo on the Cor Anglais, with Jeff Crellin on first oboe. But what really stays with me is the camaraderie – we were all on the same wavelength, all bright young people caught up in the moment. We had the relentless energy you have at twenty, when we were all moving at the same speed.

Question: What advice would you give to young people starting their careers?

Answer Anything can happen in life, so don’t worry too much about how to build your career ten years from now – concentrate on one day at a time. Do each day well, be happy with what you’ve achieved and it will work out.

Sign up for all the latest AYO news straight to your inbox

Name(Required)