BY SAL VASTA
Vale Angelo Vasta Q.C. At 80-years-of-age, he lived a full life dedicated both to his career and his family.
He was the son of a Sicilian migrant who came to the North Queensland cane fields in 1922 in the hope of a better future for his family. He was a role model for his family and others around him.
He taught us the value of service to the public, rather than service to one’s self, and he illustrated this perfectly during his distinguished legal career. Angelo’s unwavering passion to keep giving back to the community didn’t stop once he left the Supreme Court bench.
He threw himself into doing work for the less privileged, especially for the Aboriginal Legal Service, where he was a powerful advocate for indigenous Australians.
Angelo was known by all to be an exceptional advocate, with a sense of fairness.
He undoubtedly made an impact in the courtroom. He was a shrewd advocate and highly respected by his peers. Both as a Judge and as a Barrister, he savoured justice – whether that was in The High Court of Australia or the smallest tribunal in Queensland.
Whilst known by many for his courage and resilience, Angelo was also a man of great faith, and the love of his family was second only to his love of God.
Angelo Vasta leaves a profound and unique legacy and his contribution to the law in Queensland will live on.
