Kevin McCreanor Valedictory

Address of DP Morzone QC on behalf of the President of the Bar Association of Queensland, on the occasion of the retirment of Kevin McCreanor and his valedictory ceremony in the Supreme Court in Cairns on Thurdsay 14 July 2014.

May it please the Court.

It is a privilege to speak here this morning on behalf of the President of the Bar Association of Queensland, Shane Doyle QC, its members, and more particularly those members who practice in the Cairns region.

Kevin McCreanor was a true pioneer when he forged, with only a few others, a permanent presence of Barristers in Far North Queensland.

Whilst not from these parts, having been born in Perth and raised in Adelaide, Kevin had the North Queenslanders’ ‘gift of the gab’.  He was a natural orator with acute sense of justice.  But law wasn’t his first choice. 

The young Kevin was obviously clever.  He finished secondary school at 15 and started university the following year.  He had no idea of what career to pursue.  He initially chose medicine because he got into the quota.

During his first year, Kevin was taking out a young lady whose father was Frank Moran QC a leading, criminal barrister in Adelaide (he argued the R v Ireland case). With proven wisdom and foresight, Moran QC told Kevin that he “would make a very good lawyer.” Perhaps to impress, Kevin changed to study law.  “As simple as that”, he would say.

After graduation and at the tender age of 20, Kevin yearned for adventure to “save the world”.  He had read about New Guinea, and it intrigued him.  So off to New Guinea he went in 1968.  There he worked as an advocate for indigenous people through the office of the Public Solicitor.

Such an experience instilled in Kevin the core skills that would hold him in good stead for the rest of his professional life.  He once described these core skills in this way: “a great respect for truth, a great respect for listening to what other people had to say, and a great respect for knowing there is always another side to everything.” 

In 1974 Kevin returned to Australia and commenced private practice at the bar in Brisbane.  There he knew one person from his days in New Guinea, that was: “Des Sturgess”, who was undoubtedly a wise mentor and colleague.

Kevin’s practice often brought him to Cairns on circuit.  Encouraged by a number of solicitors here, who he had also met in New Guinea, he decided to move.  In late 1979 he moved to Cairns and pioneered the Cairns Bar.  He shared that honour with Leo White, and later a few others.  He has seen judges come and go, but graciously resisted calls for judicial appointment.

He was the champion for the individual.

Kevin’s Irish heritage perhaps accounted for his inherent cynicism of State and authority.  He has preferred the individual as opposed to the organisation or the State.  He considered that: “the individual was far more interesting and far more worthy of looking after than any institution.”  This personified his criminal practice.

Now that Kevin is retiring, he will be sorely missed. 

The Bar Association salutes you for your pioneering career and your service to the law, especially in regional Queensland.  On behalf of the President, and the Bar Association of Queensland — I wish you and Christine the very best of health and enjoyment in your well-deserved retirement.

May it please the Court.