Hundreds Pay Their Respects To A Legal Legend

The Age

Saturday October 11, 2008

Steve Butcher

SOME of the many hundreds who attended Stephen Drazetic's funeral service had pressing matters of state or survival, but nothing could keep them from St Brendan's Church in Flemington yesterday afternoon.

Not the global economic meltdown for federal Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner, not Victoria's exhaustive parliamentary abortion debate for Attorney-General Rob Hulls or the workload of some of the state's busiest judges and magistrates.

And not even the Purana gangland taskforce breathing down the neck of Melbourne's colourful underworld identity Mick Gatto.

They all gathered - including a busload of Victoria Legal Aid lawyers and staff, leading Queen's counsel, Crown prosecutors and solicitors, senior police officers, union officials and some old clients - to farewell Mr Drazetic.

A law clerk for 35 years with Legal Aid and cherished son, uncle, raconteur, gourmet cook, Melbourne Knights soccer devotee, ALP member and friend, Mr Drazetic, 57, died a week ago after a five-year fight against bone cancer.

Delivering the eulogy, Judge Mick Bourke of the County Court acknowledged his contribution to the "decency of the society we live in" through his work at Legal Aid.

He said: "They're the people who devote careers ... under-resourced and undervalued by those who don't get it ... to make sure a committed, high-quality legal representation is not only a privilege for the well off.

"They're the people who stand between that and the quite immoral alternative."

Judge Bourke said his friend was respected by all sides because he "fought hard but was straight and honourable and dealt with everyone with decency and good humour".

His sister Elizabeth Lucev and friend of many years Yvonne Kernan spoke of his passion and enthusiasm for the ALP, the local and Croatian communities and all things Irish and the Celtic Club, which spawned the "O'Drazetic" surname.

Ms Kernan described him as an "amazing optimist", whether preparing the unwinnable murder case, tackling the impossible election or planning dinner for 20 in his tiny kitchen.

Outside the church, 17-year homicide squad detective Charlie Bezzina recalled murder cases he fought with Mr Drazetic, but "when the job was over we enjoyed each other's company".

As Judge Bourke said: "Perhaps his secret, or his gift ... was simply we loved him because of how much he loved life and how much he loved us."

© 2008 The Age

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