Nola Karapanagiotidis, the first Greek Australian woman to become County Court Judge
(L-R) Mother Sia and daughter Nola Karapanagiotidis celebrate a historical moment for the family. Photo: Kon Karapanagiotidis/Twitter
The County Court of Victoria officially welcomed newly appointed Judge Nola Karapanagiotidis on Thursday, the first Greek Australian woman to become a County Court Judge.
Newly sworn in Judge Karapanagiotidis has served as a Barrister for two decades across the Magistrates’, County and Supreme Courts, appearing in the Federal and High Courts and coronial inquests prior to her appointment last year.
Her extensive resume includes work as part of Victoria Legal Aid and as a solicitor advocate, while she has also held a range of community-based and volunteer legal positions.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a prouder day. My sister Nola Karapanagiotidis has just been appointed a County Court judge!! The 2nd in my family to even go to High School,” Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM, a human rights lawyer and social worker himself, wrote on Twitter.
“My sister Nola did 28 years of pro Bono legal work before being appointed a Judge. From Aboriginal deaths in custody, to defending political activists, 15 yrs of acting for refugees & donating all $300,000+ of her wins back to @ASRC1, mentor to women, volunteer for LGBTIQA rights.”
Mr Karapanagiotidis, CEO and founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre has been a fierce advocate for the rights of people seeking asylum, refugees, and Indigenous Australians as well as a board member for Children’s Ground.
Sharing his family’s history of immigration he celebrated his sister’s accomplishment as a historical moment.
“Everything can change in a generation. Today my sister Nola officially welcomed as a County Court Judge. 1st Greek Australian woman to be appointed,” he shared.
“My mum Sia never went to high school. Her sacrifices and those of my late dad Leo made it possible. They came as migrants, no English, worked on farms and in factories until their bodies could take no more,” continued Mr. Karapanagiotidis.
He went on to explain that his father who was forced to leave school at the age of 9, had dreamed of being a lawyer, whilst his mother who stopped school at the age of 12, wanted to be a maths teacher.
“Somehow you found within you the strength to raise Nola and I so that we could dream that we could touch the sky and be anything,” he said.
