On marking 50 years in the profession, Macrossan & Amiet consultant Gene Paterson thanked the women who had encouraged him, supported him and ultimately followed him into his legal career in Mackay.
Gene was presented with the Queensland Law Society gold pin and certificate for 50 years in the profession at the recent Celebrate Recognise Socialise event on 2 March where Director Parker Law QLD Kelly Parker received the silver pins to mark her 25-year milestone.
A former Partner at Macrossan & Amiet, Gene was admitted in 1976 before moving to Mackay in 1977, establishing himself in the firm and the North Queensland community along with his family which now boasts three daughters all working in the law.
“When I came to Mackay I first worked in a sawmill. I ended up getting a job at Macrossan & Amiet and I was told after I started working there by Kerry Cullinane that I was very fortunate to be working at Macrossan & Amiet because there were good lawyers there,” he recalled.
“And I’m certain the people that I worked with were good lawyers, good members of the community and I hope that I’ve carried on that tradition.
“Working for 50 years, I’ve enjoyed my work as a solicitor. I’m very proud of the fact that I have three daughters as solicitors.
“I recently did the Three Capes walk in Tasmania, and Georgina came with me. And somebody asked about influence. Well, I didn’t think I influenced at all, but she said it was a good job for women.
“And when you get to women, I wouldn’t be here where I was today but for the women in my life.
“I had an older sister who was a school teacher who used to walk behind me and pat me on the back and say, ‘When you leave school, you’re going to be a lawyer’.
“And I went to Queensland University and didn’t know what lawyers did. When I was admitted, there were 24 men who were admitted on the same day.
“I’m certain that none of you young lawyers, at your admission, there were only 24 people.
“When I first came to Mackay, on my first day of work, I was taken around Mackay and introduced to the 13 solicitors that were then practising in Mackay.
“I think there’s more than 70 practising here now.”
And aptly ahead of this week’s International Women’s Day, Gene returned to the topic of women several times during his speech.
“Not only was my sister an influence on me, but I’d be in big trouble if I didn’t mention the fact that my wife has been great support to me over the many years where I’ve travelled to Townsville, Rockhampton and Brisbane and spent weeks away from home with her looking after our children,” he said.
“So the other women in my life are the secretaries and I’ve had great female support over many years in the course of my employment.
“But anyway, coming back to women, the law is a great career for women, and at a point in time there will be more women than there are men.
“And there are some great women who are great solicitors, and there are some of them in the room here today.
“I do know some of them, and I know that they’re great solicitors and they’re respected. And at the end of the day, there’s not much left other than to be respected.”
And Parker Law founder Kelly Parker was one of those respected women in the room.
After graduating from James Cook, Kelly began her career in the late 1990s. Admitted to the High Court, Kelly’s multifaceted experience spans law, business, and regional advocacy.
After owning and operating two successful businesses, her passion for commercial and business law evolved into leadership as principal of a regional mid‑tier firm.
In 2016, she founded Parker Law QLD, a boutique practice committed to excellence within its specialist areas.
Renowned for client‑centred, practical solutions, Kelly combines extensive legal expertise with regional insight. A devoted mother and community member, she remains dedicated to safeguarding clients and developing the next generation of legal talent.
Mackay District Law Association President Rebecca Casanovas said it was a genuine pleasure to be part of the occasion.
“In a profession that can so often feel pressured, adversarial, and fast-paced, what stands out most strongly about this region is not simply the quality of legal work, it is the collegiality with which that work is done,” she said.
“Mackay is not a large metropolitan centre where anonymity is easy and competition is distant. For better or worse, we practise alongside one another year after year. We appear against each other in court, we negotiate across the table, and yet we continue to share knowledge, support new practitioners, and treat each other with professional respect. That spirit of cooperation strengthens not only our practices, but the administration of justice itself.
“Because we practise in a regional area, our influence is often broader than our city counterparts. We volunteer on boards. We contribute to community organisations. We serve sporting clubs, charities, and local initiatives. The legal profession here is deeply woven into the social and economic fabric of the Mackay region.”
Rebecca said the District Law Association created opportunities for young lawyers to find their footing and for experienced practitioners, such as Kelly and Gene, to continue growing in their careers.
“The strength of the Mackay legal community has always been its willingness to show up, to attend, to contribute, to mentor, to lead. The DLA is not a separate entity from us; it is us. Its vitality depends on our energy and our collective commitment,” she said.
“As we move forward, I encourage each of you to continue investing in this profession, not only in your own practice, but in the broader community of practitioners around you. Reach out to a junior lawyer. Support a colleague. Contribute to discussions about reform and improvement.
“Because in Mackay, the impact of what we do extends far beyond our offices and courtrooms.
“We should be proud of the profession we have built here, proud of its standards, proud of its collegiality, and proud of the positive influence it has across the region.”
Share this article