Legal eagle celebrates 30 years

AS FOUNDER OF MARINO LAWYERS, THE CAIRNS LEGAL EAGLE HAS FOR MANY DECADES BEEN A PROMINENT SUPPORTER FOR AN ARRAY OF LOCAL CHARITIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, WRITES ALICIA NALLY

As founder of Marino Lawyers, Cairns legal eagle Charlie Marino has for many decades been a prominent supporter for an array of local charities and community groups. The firm the 59-year-old founded will turn 30 this year and while Mr Marino said plenty of “blood, sweat and tears have gone into the business”, he credits his team for most of its success. “The changes I’ve seen are largely positive ... tourism, over 30 years, is now an industry in this area that attracts thousands of visitors. If it wasn’t for that industry Cairns wouldn’t have grown as fast as it has,” Mr Marino said.

CHARLIE Marino’s area of expertise is the law, but with a family history in the Far North which began in 1927, he has a knowledge and understanding of the region which only a dedication to the community can provide.

Marino Lawyers, the firm the 59-year-old founded, will turn 30 this year and while Mr Marino said plenty of “blood, sweet and tears have gone into the business”, he credits his team for most of its success.

Educated at Redlynch State School and St Augustine’s College, the young scholar completed his law degree at the Queensland University of Technology (then Queensland Institute of Technology) in Brisbane and he then completed his legal clerkship under noted Cairns solicitor John Covacevich.

Mr Marino cut his teeth in the legal profession at McCullogh Robertson before returning to set up his own business back home in Cairns in 1988.

As well as establishing the legal firm, which has donated $250,000 to community organisations and charities over the past three decades, Mr Marino’s dedication to community has been well noted by his

OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES, MARINO LAWYERS HAVE DONATED $250,000 TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, ORGANISATIONS AND CHARITIES

positions as board member of the Cairns Show Association and Far North Queensland Hospital Association.

A born-and-bred Redlynch local, the lawyer also branched out into development, helping establish the Redlynch Central shopping centre and its neighbouring futsal and indoor sports centre.

“It’s been very important for me to be part of this because the developers I’ve worked with have a passion for what I do and want to bring about a positive lifestyle for the residents of Cairns,” he said.

“In particular in Redlynch we have focused on community facilities to promote a healthy lifestyle.

“I live at Redlynch, I was born and educated at Redlynch and my parents still live at Redlynch. I’m very passionate about Redlynch.”

The self-confessed soccer “tragic” said the Cairns community on the whole had met many of the challenges which had arisen.

“Not only the Global Financial Crisis but the airline pilot strike (have occurred) and some good businesses just haven’t been able to weather the storm,” he said.

“The changes I’ve seen are largely positive, though. Tourism, over 30 years, is now an industry in this area that attracts thousands of visitors.

“If it wasn’t for that industry Cairns wouldn’t have grown as fast as it has.