Tribute to law firm pioneer
A FOUNDING partner of the Territory’s oldest and one of its largest law firms has died, but not before seeing the company’s 50th birthday in Darwin last month.
Richard Keller, of Ward Keller lawyers, died in Brisbane, aged 85, last Sunday. He was farewelled yesterday at a ceremony at Kenmore Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brisbane.
He went into partnership with Dick Ward, the man who gave his name to Dick Ward Drive in Fannie Bay, on November 1, 1963. Their firm had its roots back in 1910.
Ward Keller managing partner Leon Loganathan had become close friends with Mr Keller and described him as ‘‘ a gentleman; quiet, contemplative, and notwithstanding his advanced age, still had a sharp mind’’.
Mr Keller was only in Dar- win for five years in the 1960s and then left for Papua New Guinea. Nothing was known about him within the company until recently. It was feared he was dead until a Ward Keller staff member came across him in Brisbane.
Mr Loganathan convinced him to return to Darwin for a tour of the company and to attend the 2010 Christmas party.
‘‘He was overwhelmed — he kept saying it all the time — that the company was still running and that his name was on the letterhead,’’ Mr Loganathan said.
‘‘We celebrated 50 years last month and were very fortunate to have Mr Keller in attendance despite being in ill health due to a hip injury.’’
Mr Keller was also interviewed by Southern Cross TV Around Palmerston presenter Wayne Zerbe on his visit.
‘‘You can’t stop the march of history and the march of commerce and other forces (such as) mining agriculture and all sorts of other activities that have been increasing in intensity and usefulness to the Northern Territory. And Darwin is benefiting in this way,’’ Mr Keller told Around Palmerston.
‘‘Now we’ve got the highrises in Darwin. Unthinkable in Darwin in 1961, or even in 1968 when we left.’’
Mr Keller was born to Swiss father Eugene Keller and English mother Margaret on February 25, 1928, in Bucharest, Romania.
He arrived in Sydney aged 23 in 1951 and married Margaret Nystrom three years later. The practicing Sydney University law school graduate and his family came to Darwin in 1961 when he was admitted to the NT Supreme Court.
Mr Keller is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Krystal Platt, daughter-in law Ana, son-in-law Phillip, sister and sister-in-law Emile and Magdalena, grandchildren Amber, Liam, Laura, and Sariayah. ‘‘There’s no question of changing the name,’’ Mr Loganathan said of the company title.