LSB July 2018_Web

IN HONOUR
Vale: Richard Gardner
GAY GARDNER AM
Richard Frederick Gower Gardner was
born in Chelsea, London in 1933 to
Humphrey and Joy Gardner, the eldest son
of the family.
Richard enjoyed a very happy early
childhood until the Second World War
broke out in 1939 when he was six years
old. Until then Richard and his family
enjoyed a great deal of domestic assistance
which allowed his parents to enjoy their
favourite sport of hunting. His father
was Secretary of East Essex Hunt for a
number of years.
With the advent of war England was
never the same again. Richard and his
family were evacuated to the country and
were moved from place to place for safety
reasons. A house in which they temporarily
lived included a clock tower the pendulum
of which clock travelled slowly down
the inside of the tower and through the
ceiling of the family bathroom where it
rested!. Weavers (the time keeper) was
commissioned to wind the clock in their
bathroom each Sunday evening!
Richard and his brother Nigel were first
taught by a governess and then sent away
to Prep school followed by Eton College
in sight of Windsor Castle - a favourite
residence of the Queen. Life long friends
were made at Eton.
Richard undertook his two years of
National Service in the Grenadier Guards
including a posting to Egypt to guard the
Suez Canal. His orders were “shoot to kill”
should the enemy appear! Richard was
awarded the Queen’s Medal for service in
that zone.
Completing Law School in London
Richard became a solicitor practising in the
old established firm of Collyer Bristowe
situated in Bedford Road London. Dealing
with Trusts dating back hundreds of years
was part of Richard’s workload.
In 1963, home in the country for the
weekend, Richard went to a Point to Point
race meeting at Marks Tey, Essex. I was in
England at the time and I too attended the
same Point to Point. We met and a lifetime
romance began. As my father (the late
Hon Justice VR Millhouse) became very ill
I had to return home in a hurry. Richard
followed some months later and went
into the family law firm of Baker McEwin
Millhouse and Co as it was then known.
On Richard’s arrival in Adelaide however
he was required to satisfy Dame Roma
Mitchell of his professional credentials, his
personal integrity and her question: why
should he come to Australia? His careful
reply was for “personal reasons”. Dame
Roma’s curiosity was unassuaged!
Richard and I were married in 1965
(Dame Roma came to the wedding!) and
four children arrived in quick succession.
One is a Secondary School/ESL teacher,
one gained a Master in Town Planning and
is now an Events Manager, and two are
lawyers.
Specialising in Wills and Estates and
Commercial law, Richard was a senior
partner of what is now known as Mellor
Olsson. For some years Richard was a
member of the Property Committee of
the Law Society. A most diligent and
conscientious solicitor, Richard went out
on his own in latter years. He always said
he would work “until he dropped” and
that is exactly what happened. He has left
behind a current practice.
Richard served on a number of
committees of community organisations
in a voluntary capacity throughout his
life. In his early days in Australia he was a
keen member of the Pickwick Club which
included a number of other lawyers.
Richard had a very lively Christian Faith
and together he and I went to St Chad’s
Anglican Church for 52 years, very much
participating in the life of the church.
We always laughed together. Our very much-loved
children are testimony to the happy marriage we
shared.
He read the Lesson regularly, counted
the Sunday Collection and was “King of
Raffles” at the Annual Church Fayre for
many years.
Interests of Richard included
classical music in which he had a deep
knowledge and an abiding love, European
architecture, sailing, skiing and travel. We
went abroad on a number of occasions
particularly to England and Europe. In
more recent years, our first “ports of call”
were to see our daughter Lelia and family
in Sydney and our son Alex and his wife
Sumi in Hong Kong. Visiting family and
friends was a very special part of our travel
programme.
Richard and I journeyed together for 52
years until the 9th of May this year, the
day I tragically lost him. We shared our
Faith, the love of the law and had so many
interests in common. We always laughed
together. Our very much-loved children
are testimony to the happy marriage we
shared.
A life well spent, a life devoted to his
God, his family and to the law, Richard will
be greatly missed by those very close to
him, his many friends both in Australia and
abroad, his colleagues in the Law and most
particularly and immeasurably by me. B
July 2018 THE BULLETIN 15