Central Queensland University Press celebrated its most prestigious book launch in the 11 years of its existence when it played host to over 200 distinguished guests in Sydney.

The launch was held for Justice Roderick Meagher’s Portraits on Yellow Paper.

The guest of honour was Her Excellency Marie Bashir, the Governor of NSW. Other guests included the Chief Justice of NSW, J. Spiegelmann, the Chief Justice of Queensland, Paul de Jersey and Chief Justice of the High Court, Murray Gleeson.

Also present were 50 judges, Dame Leonie Kramer, former Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Lady Fairfax and Dame Margaret Olley.

The venue was the Robin Gibson Gallery which featured a larger than life-size crucified gorilla and the framed originals of the 30 portraits by Simon Fieldhouse which were featured in the book together with the diatribes and accolades of the unpredictable Roddy Meagher.

Most of the framed portraits, including one of Prime Minister John Howard and one of Cardinal George Pell, were sold on the night. Professor Myers of CQU Press acted as MC and explained to the gathering that CQU Press had now signed up two prominent judges as authors for the publishing list and was looking to becoming the exclusive publisher for the literary works and memoirs of judges of the Supreme Court and High Court.

Justice Ian Callinan launched the book, Portraits on Yellow Paper, and ironically praised his colleague Justice Meagher’s self-presentation as a young Turk of free speech and an enfant terrible of political incorrectness. Justice Meagher responded by saying that he had heard that Justice Callinan had taken up ballet lessons.

The editor in chief of Quadrant, Paddy McGuinness, waved around copies of the new issue of Quadrant featuring a lengthy review of Portraits on Yellow Paper by High Court Justice Michael Kirby.

The book had already sold out of its first print run well before the launch and a second print run was completed in time for the launch. Senior journalists from The Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald were taking frantic notes and promised reviews.

Photo left: Dame Leonie Kramer, Professor David Myers and NSW Governor Marie Bashir at the book launch.

Photo above: Justice Ian Callinan (launch speaker), Justice Roddy Meagher, enfant terrible and co-author of Portraits), and Professor David Myers (publisher and MC) at the book launch.