IN HONOUR
Vale: Carmel Preece
C
armel Preece, who died on 9 June aged 56, was the type of lawyer who inspired the utmost respect and confidence in anyone who dealt with her. Carmel grew up in Mount Gambier with her brothers and one sister, who were all very close, and went to Aquinas College while studying law at Adelaide University. Carmel began her career as a junior lawyer at Aldermans in 1985, and carved out her initial career at what was then the Industrial Court. Fellow junior lawyers in Carmel’s cohort included Mark Keam, Tim O’Callaghan, Anne MacDonald, Mark Calligeros (now Judge Calligeros), Tracey Kerrigan and Tony Phelps. Carmel went on to have a long and successful career in the legal profession, practicing predominantly in the workers compensation jurisdiction in South Australia. She enjoyed many years working at Piper Alderman, Duncan Basheer & Hannon, Gun & Davey, and finally at KJK Legal – coming full circle to again work with some
of those lawyers she had commenced her career with many years before. Colleague and friend Mark Keam said that while she often flew under the radar, and was never a great self-publicist, “Carmel was by far and away one of the most conscientious, thorough and reliable lawyers we had the privilege of working with. She gained the respect of her many clients, the judiciary, and other lawyers over the years with her calm, empathetic and focussed demeanour. Many of those people she counted among her friends.” Carmel enjoyed the collegiate atmosphere of practicing in the worker’s compensation jurisdiction and, when COVID-19 restrictions were enforced earlier this year, missed the opportunity to be able to converse with colleagues, swap war stories and gossip at the SAET. She was looking forward to being able to once again take a morning stroll along North Terrace to the SAET to begin the day’s battle once the COVID-19
Carmel Preece
restrictions were lifted, but her health took a turn for the worst, and after a three-year battle with cancer, Carmel passed away peacefully at the Mary Potter Hospice. She had many friends within and outside the profession, and will be profoundly missed. B
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