After 20 years at the helm of Proctor, John Teerds is putting down the red pen and easing into retirement.
Brisbane born and raised, John started a journalism cadetship at The Courier-Mail straight from school. He has been a writer, editor and desktop publisher, and has overseen the evolution of Proctor from a monthly, glossy publication to the online presence it is today.
Instead of asking the questions, John answered a couple of ours.
What drew you to the Proctor managing editor position?
After working in metropolitan journalism for many years, then running my own magazine publishing and public relations companies for a decade, the next logical step seemed to be something corporate/semi-government, so when this opportunity presented itself I jumped at it.
What is your most memorable post/article?
There’s been way too many to identify a single item –a bit like asking which is your favourite child? However, a few of my favourites are:
Model lawyers (a fashion shoot using real lawyers, November 2005)
How it really happened: 20 years on, Paul Clauson and Robert Needham reveal inside stories of the Fitzgerald Inquiry (May 2007; this one made national headlines)
Haneef – Peter Russo’s story (November 2007)
Regional, rural & remote – Profiles of practice beyond the city limits (September 2009)
The eye of the storm – Cyclone Yasi no match for NQ lawyers (March 2011)
Cover story March 2012 – including some unique photos of the Chief Justice, Bar Association President and QLS President.
A life in war crimes – Kate’s journey to the International Criminal Court (March 2014)
And many more! I’ve also really enjoyed doing feature interviews with all of the incoming QLS Presidents over many years! I have loved working with the legal profession and judiciary after a decade working with architects and engineers!
How has Proctor changed over the years?
The big change was, of course, moving from a printed monthly magazine to an online legal news and information website. Being so closely involved in that was both a great challenge and an exciting experience.
From its first issue, Proctor has been a bit informal and a bit cheeky. It has been tricky trying to keep that vibe – hopefully that is something that hasn’t changed too much.
One of the key changes is the immediacy that a website allows, so that instead of waiting four or five weeks for the publication of an article, they can now be published within a day or two, while important legal news can be posted quickly, often within a few minutes.
What is next for you?
The aim is to ease into full retirement over a few years, so I’ll be assisting on QLS Proctor for a while, and perhaps helping some firms with writing/editing projects. I live on the Sunshine Coast, so slowing down also means more time for long beach walks with my dog and sitting on the veranda watching the boats and whales go by.
John is handing over the reins to former newspaper journalist and editor Natalie Gauld.
5 Responses
Thanks for your service John. Your piece on our Christian Legal Network in 2018 has been a feature in our network communications and on my office wall. We now take our Network to Kenya this year. I have enjoyed Proctor over the years. Enjoy retirement 🙂
I have worked with John for a decade now, and the contribution he has made to the Qld legal profession can’t be understated. In a world where there are so many streams of information having a common thread that binds a group together is extremely valuable in creating a shared understanding and perspective. Even if you don’t personally read Proctor much, the fact that the other solicitors you interact with do means that John’s work has positively impacted your life.
Nice bloke, too.
Congratulations John and hope you enjoy a well earned retirement. You have been a great editor and stalwart of the profession, keeping us all informed and connected. Cheers Teresa Kearney
Onya John. Bloody well done. I always enjoyed our association.
Thanks for your contributions over the past 20 years. Proctor is so important in keeping us up to date and in enhancing the coherence of the profession that practices in so many ways across the state.
Best wishes for your next project and retirement