Life member devoted to the North

Cairns lawyer Bev Reaston doesn’t believe there are any drawbacks to being a regional lawyer and is passionate about the North Queensland legal fraternity.

And the Reaston Drummond Law Principal’s commitment to the district was recognised with life membership at the North Queensland Law Association Conference in Townsville in May.

“I was absolutely blown away, surprised and delighted.  I didn’t know I was being given the award,” Bev said of the honour.

“On the night I was catching up with colleagues and some who I consider to be dear friends.  We have all been in the law for quite some time. Our North Queensland Law Association very much caters for practitioners in North Queensland.

 

“The association ensures that northern practitioners do not become isolated and that our voice is heard when it counts.

“I have never accepted that there is less opportunity if you live in a regional location.  Our lifestyle is a plus.  It allows us the opportunity to be involved in community and school activities. I practise family law in that I believe we do make a difference in people’s lives and I enjoy particularly working with children. 

“It was encouraging to see so many young lawyers showing passion for what they were doing, knowledgeable and energetic.”

At the conference, then President Lorelei Billing said: “From the outset, our recipient has committed to getting the best results for her clients. She is passionate about Australia’s commitment to the aims of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“With training in mediation and collaborative law, our life member has developed a unique practice for thinking outside the square.”

Bev and her family have lived in Cairns since 1980.  Her three children and now four grandchildren have grown up there. She is committed to the region – professionally and personally.

Throughout her career she has been on Cairns Management Committees for the Domestic Violence Agency, Legal Aid and the North Queensland Women’s Legal Centre.  She was one of the first Independent Children’s Lawyers appointed in Cairns. She is currently the North Queensland Representative on the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.

Her value to the law was also recognised back in 2015 when she was selected as one of a group of female lawyers to have made a “significant contribution” for an oral history project by the National Library of Australia and Australian National University.

“Curiously I was chosen as one of the 45 Australian female lawyers seen as a trailblazer.  My story, along with other pioneer women lawyers, is on disc at the National Library of Australia,” she said modestly.

“Cairns is a wonderful city to practise law, raise children and our local law groups have put Cairns on the map in terms of our experience and dedication.”

Bev with Director Deanne Drummond.

However Bev admits the early days were not easy.

“I had no local role models. I believe I had to work so much harder than my male counterparts to show that females could practice in this area,” she recalled.

“In 1980, it was very much a male profession.  I observed, male solicitors appearing in court and making submissions, seemingly with little questioning from the Judges and/or Magistrates. Initially, when I appeared, I was questioned as to what section I was referring to, what cases I was relying on and had to be prepared. 

“It was even more difficult being one of the first females in Cairns to appear in court pregnant.  Funnily enough, on some occasions I used it to my advantage.  As it was getting closer to my time to give birth, the male practitioners would say, ‘You first’.”

And Bev has co-authored a history of family law in Cairns, along with Claire Levi, called Silence! All Stand, which took about four years to complete.

 

“I initially attended a presentation by Judge Tracy Fantin as to the history of the District Court in Cairns.  Whilst I sat listening to her, I was inspired that I could present a paper about the history of our Family Court in Cairns,” she said.

“The difference is that I had lived that history and I could speak from personal experience.  My ‘paper’ morphed into a book.

“The book covers the history of family law in Cairns, our courts, our court staff and leading family lawyers in Cairns. It is also a personal memoir. The difficulty was getting some of the old photographs into a state that could be published in a book. 

“As the book quotes judges and lawyers, we had to receive their authority in writing, permitting me to publish their comments.  That all took time.

“The cover is a picture of Cairns. It is a morning photo of the sun coming up over Cairns.  To me it represents new beginnings. I see that as family lawyers, we assist families with their new beginning. 

“There were times I felt like giving up, but one particular male colleague, Terry Newman, kept encouraging me to finish as there were lots of stories to be shared.  Our Cairns family law history is rich in stories.  We have a very active group, that was partly responsible for setting up our own family court building in Cairns.” 


Bev at the recent NQLA conference with Jim Reaston
and Michael Keogh.

Bev said before the local Family Court was established, advocates had to travel to Brisbane for trials. 

“Our first physical appearances in the Family Court in Cairns were held in the Lyons Hotel,” she said.  “Alcohol was removed from the bar and lawyers waited in that area to appear ‘in court’.   

“I recall a divorce hearing proceeding. The Judge had his back to the wall and there was a fire exit to the right.  The fire exit door opened and two Americans in matching chequered shorts, with a video camera, burst in saying, ‘Oh wow – this is a court’.  The court was adjourned.  Shortly after that we moved to new premises in Abbott Street. 

“Interviewing many of our key players for the book was rewarding.  These interviewees were forward thinkers, practitioners and court staff, truly committed as to how best we could assist families and how we could enrich the lives of children going through separation.  I was motivated by their sheer passion to share their stories.

“There is a lot of criticism from the public against family lawyers, but my experience is that we are caring, and acknowledge that litigation isn’t always the answer.  We find solutions to families’ problems.”

Bev said Cairns family law had sparked the interest of southern judges who enjoyed travelling north during our winter months.

“Many of the southern judges have commented on our work ethics and one particular southern judge stated, ‘I wish I could take a few of you Cairns family lawyers to Sydney to show them how to practise’.”