Professor Neville Rochow SC, Senior Counsel of the South Australian Bar, is an adjunct professor at Notre Dame University, Sydney and an adjunct associate professor at the Adelaide Law School.
As well as having been a successful commercial barrister for many years and, more recently, an academic lawyer, he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Professor Rochow has spoken across the country as well as internationally on the constitutional, legal and policy issues relating to marriage and the family.
He has been invited by the Australian Family Association to speak at Parliament House in Canberra as part of the celebrations of this year’s National Marriage Day.
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National Marriage Day is 27 August, 2014. This will be the 10th anniversary of the event.
Professor Rochow spoke with Mormon Newsroom this week about the importance of protecting the sanctity of marriage and family.
“There is much to celebrate in this 10th anniversary of the amendment to the Marriage Act, [entrenching marriage between a man and a woman as the norm in Australia], which occurred in 2004,” he said.
“It was what might be termed a ‘revolutionary’ step. When Parliament, on a bi-partisan basis, declared itself to be opposed to what is in reality genderless marriage, it went against trends.
“I am so glad it did,” he says. “I have been very happily married to Penny for almost 32 years, living most of that time in Adelaide. It is close to the perfect city in which to raise children. We have found the gospel an indispensable part of our lives. With that guidance, it has been less challenging for me, as a convert to the Church, to have raised our three children.
“We are very fortunate to have a missionary tradition in our family. My parents-in-law served a mission together. Penny and I both served our missions in Europe before we married and hope one day to serve another together. Our son, son-in-law and youngest daughter have all served missions.
“We also have a tradition of higher education. We value education very highly. All of the members of our family have attended university. We all read very widely and think broadly, examining life from many different angles, but always with Christ as the centre of all we aim for.
“Our whole family has benefited from the experiences in church and community service. I think our children have also gained from having a mother and a father who could give them different approaches towards a common solution in the gospel.
“Each of our children is active in the gospel and the community. They are contributors and serve wherever they can. I couldn’t ask for much more than to see them as followers of the Saviour, well-educated and happily engaged in meaningful, productive lives.”
Among those also speaking at the event will be the Reverend Doctor Margaret Court AO MBE. She is the Pastor at Victory Life Centre in Perth, and a tireless advocate for marriage and family.
Watch a video about Professor Neville Rochow and his beliefs.
Watch videos about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and its teachings on marriage and family.