Chester PorterQC is a prominent retired Australian barrister.
Early life
Chester was born in 1926 to his mother Coralie and father Frederick Porter. His mother was born to a Jewish family but later converted to Christianity. When asked about his faith he has at times referred to himself as a 'Christian Jew'. Chester began high school at Barker College before going on to win a scholarship to Shore and finishing his high schooling there. While at Shore, Porter was captain of the debating team. He then won a spot at the University of Sydney, graduating in law. While a law student, Porter purportedly witnessed his friend Frank McAlary dance for a cameraman after the announcement of the end of the Second World War. He has long since publicly supported the theory that McAlary was the Dancing Man. He was admitted to the bar in 1948 at aged 21, he was the youngest person ever admitted to the bar at the time, and subsequently the second youngest, in history, after Norman Jenkyn who was a few months younger.
Legal career
Chester is notable for his participation in the Voyager and Chamberlain Royal Commissions. He defended notorious crooked police officer Roger Rogerson, on bribery charges against fellow police officer Michael Drury. He was portrayed by John Hargreaves in the miniseries Blue Murder, about the trial of Roger Rogerson. His defence of Judge John Foord was considered so miraculous that the headline "Chester Porter walks on water" was used in a newspaper. Porter was nicknamed the smiling funnel web because of his charm, great politeness and his forensic questioning. He advocated at the Bar for 52 years, Joining in 1948, and becoming a Queens Counsel in 1974. Porter strongly pursued improvement in forensic science as a result cases and the Chamberlain Royal Commission. His work and that of others resulted in the National Institute of Forensic Science. When he retired from the Bar in the year 2000, the Bar Council of NSW appointed him an Honorary Life Member for his exceptional service to the law. Porter was interviewed for the New South Wales Bar Association Oral History project.
Writing
After retirement Porter became an author. His books are.
The Gentle Art of Persuasion - How to argue effectively, Random House, 2005
The Conviction of the Innocent - How the law can let us down, Random House 2007
Porter also wrote some articles for Bar News.
Personal life
Chester married chemistry teacher Jean Featherstone. They had three daughters, the poet Dorothy Porter, Mary Porter, a veterinarian, and Josie McSkimming, a social worker and academic.
Jean and Chester were founding members of the NSW Dickens Society and were awarded the Percy Fitzgerald Award on 25 October 2016 for their support of the society since it founding in October 2002.
Rostrum;
Porter joined Rostrum shortly after going to the bar when there weren't many Rostrum clubs in Australia. In his book The Gentle Art of Persuasion he attributes his improved speaking skills to Rostrum and said that becoming a "Critic in Rostrum one learns a great deal". Porter won Rostrum NSW "Speaker of the Year" in the 1986 competition.
