GREALY, Louis Alphonsus

Louis Alphonsus Grealy Lawyer Mr Louis Alphonsus Grealy, died 24 April 1997 aged 82.

Mr Grealy was born on 11 June 1914 at his family's home in Boundary Street, Spring Hill.
The second son in a family of five children Mr Grealy attended the local convent in Annerley, after his family moved to the area in 1919.

Throughout childhood Mr Grealy displayed the characteristics of a good all rounder, in particular, winning prizes for artistic drawing and a gold medal for Christian Doctrine.

Members of his family recall with humour how Mr Grealy was an enterprising child. When assigned the task of clearing the family's chook pen lou innovately sat down and designed the prototype for what must have been the world's first 'chook nappy'!

Further displaying his skills for application and attention to detail, Mr Grealy won first prize for physics in the Christian Brothers' State Exam while completing his secondary schooling at St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace.

After matriculation he undertook training as a solicitor, serving articles with Mr Reginald MacDonell King and Mr Stephen Geoffrey King of King and Gill Solicitors. Qualifying as a solicitor through the Solicitors' Board and admitted to practice in May 1936 Mr Grealy became a member of the Queensland Law Society and commenced practice as a solicitor In tire old Town hall building in Queen Street in September 1938.

After being in private practice for less than four years Mr Grealy's legal career was interrupted by the war. He joined the Australian Imperial Forces volunteering for Army Cerisorship work within the Army Intelligence Department. (His legal practice was run by Messrs: WJ Kennedy McCormack & Co during this time).

Mr Grealy trained at Parbury House before being sent to the Cobi mission In Papua New Guinea. As a Sergeant with Dept. 1 Aust. Fd. Censorship Coy., his postings In Australia Included Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin, Alice Springs, Melbourne and Adelaide, before finally returning to Darwin where he served as officer in charge of intelligence until the end of the war.

After his discharge from the army Mr Grealy returned to the University of Queensland to finish his LL.B, having already completed three years of the degree in addition to, his Solicitors Board qualification.

He recommenced practice as a sole practitioner in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and continued to practice on his own until 1982 when his daughter Miss Patrice Grealy (now Patrice Grealy-Ridley) was admitted as a partner to the firm.

After retiring from partnership in 1992 Mr Grealy continued as a consultant with the firm while daughter Patrice took over, as principal.

Mr Grealy accepted complementary membership of the Queensland Law Society in 1995. Offered to practitioners who are either practicing or retired, complimentary membership is awarded in recognition of completing 50 years in active legal practice since adimission. (Mr Grealy had practiced for close to 60 years).

A keen tennis player Mr Grealy played throughout his life. As an articled clerk he balanced his study and work commitments with a rigorous tennis programme.

A pennant grade player with the Queensland Catholic Lawn Tennis Association he won numerous competitions both at local, and State level (captaining the club's Queensland team at the national competition in 1947) and continued to serve .the club for many years. It was through tennis that Mr Grealy met his wife, Noreen (an A grade player) in 1947.

After marrying in December 1950 Mr and Mrs Grealy set about rearing a family of seven daughters.

When asked to describe her father, daughter Patrice said 'Dad was a true family man, a devoted husband, father and grandfather. A person who lived his faith daily he was a man of dignity, unfailing courtesy and had a wry sense of humor - he was a true gentleman in both senses of the word - a gentleman and a gentle man.'

Mr Grealy is survived by his wife Noreen, their seven daughters Anne-Marie, Patrice, Louise, Gerarda, Gabrielle, Rosamond, Camille and their families, including 24 grandchildren.