The Animal Welfare League of Queensland (AWLQ) is  pleased to announce the appointment of the Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG as its Patron.

“We are both honoured and delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Michael Kirby as Patron of the Animal Welfare League of Queensland’” says AWLQ CEO Denise Bradley.

“Mr Kirby has a long and distinguished legal and academic career both here in Australia and overseas. He is also Australia’s longest serving judge, having served for 13 years on the High Court of Australia from 1996 – 2006.

He has distinguished himself to the highest degree in all of his endeavours, and his sharp mind and articulate manner of communicating show him to be a true intellectual and a thinker of the highest order.

As well as being a passionate advocate for social justice, Mr Kirby has been heavily involved in seeking justice for animals through the establishment of laws to provide better protection and welfare outcomes for all animals.”

“I am proud to be associated with the Animal Welfare League of Qld” stated Mr Kirby on his return this week from Chairing the UN Commission of Inquiry on DPRK in Geneva.

The AWLQ was established on the Gold Coast in 1959 and has grown into one of the most progressive, compassionate and effective animal welfare organisations in Australia.

Now in its 55th year of continuous operations, AWLQ operates three regional rehoming centres and two community vet clinics and cares for up to 10,000 homeless and abandoned animals annually.

AWLQ continues to develop and share many innovative and effective strategies with councils, pounds and rescue organisations to achieve the desired goals of increasing the rehoming and decreasing the euthanasia of shelter animals across Australia.

AWLQ formally announced the appointment of the Hon Justice Kirby on March 15, 2014.

For more information about Animal Welfare League of Queensland, please visit: www.awlqld.com.au

For more information about the Hon Michael Kirby, please visit: www.michaelkirby.com.au

ENDS