Join us for From Decriminalisation to Future Reform: Fifty Years of LGBTIQA+ Legal Progress in South Australia, a compelling symposium that explores the profound legal and social changes sparked by one of Australia’s most harrowing unsolved crimes - the drowning of Dr Duncan in the River Torrens in 1972.

Event Details
🗓 Date: Thursday, 28 August 2025
🕠 Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 Location: The Braggs Lecture Theatre, University of Adelaide
🎙 Key Note Speaker: Tim Reeves
📚 Presented by: Adelaide Law School & Division of External Engagement

Event Overview:
Join us for a thought-provoking symposium that delves into the monumental legal and social transformations that followed one of Australia’s most tragic and unsolved crimes - the drowning of Dr Duncan in the River Torrens in 1972.

Fifty years after gay law reform was achieved, this turning point in South Australian history still reverberates in conversations around justice, accountability, and LGBTIQA+ rights. Historian Tim Reeves, renowned for his work on the Duncan case, will lead an insightful evening that reflects on the profound legacy of this pivotal moment. Following on from his 2022 book The Death of Dr Duncan, Reeves will reveal new findings about the man whose death triggered a fight for equality and reform that continues today.

Featured Speakers:

Tim Reeves
Historian & Author
Tim Reeves has been researching and writing about the Duncan case since 1992. He is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of South Australia.
Hon. Lucy Hood MP
Member for Adelaide, South Australian Labor Party
Lucy Hood is a Member of the South Australian House of Assembly, representing the electorate of Adelaide for the Labor Party. She is also active with the Rainbow Labor group.
Caitlyn Georgeson
Adelaide Law School Graduate; Former Organiser for the Australian Marriage Equality campaign
Caitlyn was a Field Organiser for the 2017 Australian Marriage Equality campaign. She also served as President of the University of Adelaide Pride Club and as Queer Officer on the University of Adelaide SRC.
Valentino Esposito
Adelaide Law School Alumnus and Lawyer, Associate to the Honourable Justice McDonald at the Supreme Court of South Australia
Valentino Esposito will present his honours these exploring the potential for a Royal Commission into historical hate crimes.

Through the lens of past struggles and current legal scholarship, this event will explore the journey from decriminalisation to the ongoing challenges for LGBTIQA+ communities in South Australia.

We invite legal professionals, staff, students, community members, and allies to join us in this crucial moment of remembrance, reflection, and forward-thinking reform.

Please RSVP to confirm your attendance.