Seventh-day Adventist attorney Stuart Tipple was recognised in the 2023 Australia Day Honours List.
Mr Tipple, of Terrigal (Central Coast, NSW), was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the law.
“I feel very honoured and humbled not just by receiving the award but in receiving the many messages of congratulations and support,” he said.
Mr Tipple was heavily involved in the Azaria Chamberlain case as a member of the legal defence team, fighting for justice for Dr Michael Chamberlain and Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton through trials, appeals and inquests. He was involved in the Royal Commission into the convictions of the Chamberlains in 1986.
An attorney since 1978, Mr Tipple has used his legal expertise and experience to help others, including as a volunteer for the Salvation Army’s “Wills Promotion Day” and as a legal advisor for Legacy New South Wales and the War Widows Guild of New South Wales.
He has also supported the Adventist Church in a number of capacities, including as a volunteer on humanitarian missions, and as a board member for ADRA, the Sydney Adventist Hospital and Central Coast Adventist School.
In 2012, Mr Tipple was awarded the President’s Medal from the NSW Law Society “in recognition of significant personal and professional contributions made to the betterment of law and justice by a NSW solicitor”.
“The Chamberlain case was a very significant part of my career but I received just as much satisfaction from smaller cases and in particular in helping people who couldn’t afford legal representation achieve just results,” Mr Tipple said.
“The Chamberlain case helped highlight difficulties in receiving a fair trial in high profile and widely reported cases. More recent cases have demonstrated that the problems highlighted have not been addressed.”
Mr Tipple is a member of Forresters Beach church. He is married to Cherie and they have two sons and two grandchildren.
