Described by the Hon Alistair Nicholson AO RFD QC, former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia, as having lead that court’s development in case management, judicial education and judicial administration it will be the international recognition and regard still held for that court’s standards in those fields that will be Neil’s enduring legacy as a judge.
Born in Toowoomba on 30 December 1944 Neil was educated at St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace and the University of Queensland from which he graduated in 1968. He was admitted to practice as a solicitor and to the partnership of Brisbane firm MG Lyons & Co in 1969.
A talented and successful lawyer Neil’s time as a solicitor and partner was marked by his conduct of many high profile cases particularly in commercial and corporate litigation. Despite an extremely busy practice, Neil demonstrated a continuing commitment to pro bono and other voluntary community work.
Neil served on many Queensland Law Society committees and from 1979 to 1980 was a founding member and Vice President of the Family Law Practitioners Association of Queensland. From 1978 to 1983 he was a member of the Family Law Council, a statutory body with responsibility to advise the Commonwealth Attorney General on matters related to family law.
On 7 February 1983 Neil was appointed as a Judge of the Family Court of Australia and on 30 June 1988 as Judge Administrator for Queensland and the Northern Territory. From 1996 judicial administration for New South Wales was added to his responsibilities. On 1 July 1999 Neil was appointed Senior Administrative Judge of the Court performing all of the judicial administrative functions formerly performed by the then recently retired Deputy Chief Justice. Neil was a natural leader through the power of his intellect and personality and his ability to engender in others loyalty and commitment to shared ideals. Equally, he was a fearsome adversary.
Neil became a Council member of the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration (AIJA) in 1989 and a member of the Board of that body in 1992. He served as its President from 1996 to 1998 and his contribution to the work of the AIJA in the development of best practices in Australian courts was recognised in his award in 2001 of Life Membership of the AIJA.
Neil demanded of those who worked for him and with him the highest standards of professional practice and integrity and for the whole of his professional life as both lawyer and Judge was committed to the training and education of young lawyers. His work with the AIJA was marked by his enthusiasm for and commitment to judicial education — including at a time when many were opposed to the concept.
Neil was a pioneer in facilitating and structuring judicial education programmes in Australia and internationally in domestic violence, gender equality; cross-cultural and indigenous issues and other social justice issues. He was appointed an Advisory Board Member of the United Nations Development Programme providing training and advocacy to promote social justice throughout the Pacific region of nations. He gave numerous presentations at Australian and international conferences including in the USA, the United Kingdom, Canada, the West Indies, Sweden, Brussels and New Zealand in case management and social context education programmes for judges.
Neil retired as a judge of the Family Court of Australia on 30 August 2006 after more than 23 years’ outstanding service to the Court, his community and judicial education both in Australia and overseas.
Upon his retirement Neil applied his keen intellect and the same level of commitment marking his judicial career to the dark mysteries of fly fishing; cattle breeding and husbandry; and farming. His meticulous attention to detail and passion for doing things well lead to him being regarded as in the top echelon of amateur fly fishermen in Australia. He maintained a lifelong passion for Rugby and sharing a good wine over a meal with family and friends.
Neil’s professional and career achievements were many and impressive. No less so was his loyalty and commitment to his many friends from all walks of life throughout Australia and throughout the world. His funeral was attended by those who had travelled from Europe and interstate and by current and retired Judges, farmers and panel beaters, the young and old.
Above all else, Neil regarded his marriage to Helen and his children, Eugenie, Jude and Daniel, and his grandchildren, as the most important thing in his life. It is a matter of considerable sadness to his family and his many friends that, his illness did not allow him the long and healthy retirement he deserved.
The courageous and selfless way in which Neil battled the illness that was to take his life was as impressive as it was unsurprising to those of us privileged to have known this man of rare quality and character.
As the Hon Alistair Nicholson said in concluding his eulogy of Neil “he was a fine judge and judicial leader and great Australian. We will not see his like again”.
Hon Justice Michael Kent
Chambers
2 December 2013
