Abusive mother allowed to keep children
In what appears to be a very unusual case a Family Court has ordered that the children of an abusive Mother are to remain living with her and the Father is not permitted to spend any time with them at all.
The Mother had made the children so distressed at seeing their father that Justice Austin decided that they should not have to see him.
Evidence was presented that showed that the Father had warm loving relationships with the children in the past. This relationship however was undermined by the mother who instilled in the children a fear of the father.
Our People
Professional Staff
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Stephen ReesYear of Admission: 1982 Area/s of Expertise:
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Tori Barton (nèe Cooper-Hayter)Tori has lived in Toowoomba for 11 years. She completed her high school education at Harristown State High School, Toowoomba, in 2001, where she received an OP 2 and the subject prize for Legal Studies. She spent a year studying psychology at USQ, then transferred her studies to QUT where she completed her Bachelor of Laws in 2008. Tori has been employed at ReesLaw since November 2002 and was admitted as a solicitor on 27 April 2009. She has extensive experience in conveyancing – residential, rural and commercial property, business transfers, leases, estate planning and administration, debt collection and general commercial litigation. Outside work, Tori and her husband, Miles, have two young daughters who keep them very busy in their spare time. |
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Lindsay BrownLindsay has come to the law later in life. He was a high school teacher teaching humanities for 13 years before changing professions. Lindsay graduated from Southern Cross University with honours in 2008 following which he joined ReesLaw. He was admitted as a solicitor in 2011. His areas of interest are family law, wills and probate. Lindsay is married with three children. |
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Elizabeth Adams (nèe Buckley)Elizabeth has lived in Toowoomba for the majority of her life, studying at St Ursula’s College, Toowoomba. In 1999 she studied a year abroad in Scotland, before returning to St Ursula’s College in 2000 to complete her final year of secondary school. Elizabeth completed her Bachelor of Laws in 2004. She then returned to the Toowoomba in 2005 to be closer to family and complete a Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies course through the College of Law. Elizabeth was admitted in 2005 and after extensive practice in Family Law, particularly in parenting and child protection disputes, joined ReesLaw in 2010 to work exclusively in Family Law. |
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Del-Loraine Kaddatz. Del-Loraine graduated from the University of Queensland in 2000 with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and in 2010 with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). She was admitted as a lawyer in the ACT in 2011 and joined the Bayside Community Legal Service as a volunteer whilst working in private practice as a mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and employed as a casual academic by the University of New England School of Law. Del-Loraine joined ReesLaw in 2012 to practice predominantly in Family Law.Her professional memberships include LEADR; the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law; the Women Lawyer’s Association of Queensland; the Family Law Practitioners’ Association; Queensland Law Society; the Brisbane Polo Club and Business Chicks. Prior to studying law, she had a successful career as HR consultant in change management, communications and training and as a lecturer in corporate communications at the City University of Hong Kong. Earlier in her career she gained extensive international experience living and working in HK, UK, USA and Japan. Having grown up in Mackay and Townsville she and her partner now happily settle in Toowoomba. |
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Sandra RyderSandra joined ReesLaw in February 2007 as Assistant to Stephen Rees and Para-legal in the Family Law Team. She has 23 years legal experience having worked for 14 years as a legal secretary in England (mainly in conveyancing and company law) until she emigrated to Australia in 1996. Sandra has worked in the area of family law for 9 years and enjoys liaising with and assisting clients during the preparation of their case. Apart from Sandra’s role at ReesLaw as a Para-legal, she is also a Justice of the Peace (Qual) and is happy to witness and certify documents for both clients and non-clients. |
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Jemima AshJemima was born in Innisfail, North Queensland moving to Toowoomba where she completed all her schooling. Jemima’s interests include deep sea fishing, camping, the beach and the great outdoors. Jemima joined ReesLaw in February 2011 as Conveyancing Clerk and Paralegal to the Family Law Team. She has 15 years legal experience having worked for numerous legal firms in Toowoomba and surrounding districts. Jemima has worked in the areas of family law, criminal law, estates and property law. Jemima is also a Justice of the Peace (Qual) and is happy to witness and certify documents for both clients and non-clients. For out of hours assistance, telephone Jemima on 0400 159 926. |
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Peta CampbellPeta joined ReesLaw as ReesLaw’s Business Manager in February 2008 She is responsible for running and maintaining general bookkeeping, accounting and tax obligations for our firm. She spent 2 years in the UK where she worked in a boutique Law Firm in London, she then moved to Scotland and worked as a Finance Manager of an Insolvency Practice in Edinburgh. She has used this experience to successfully run the finance side of a law firm. Peta is a local girl but recently relocated to Hervey Bay with her husband. She continues to administer ReesLaw's accounts via remote computer link. |
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Terri-Ann SimmonsTerri-Ann is the eldest child of nine children and has lived in Toowoomba for most of her life after relocating with her family from Townsville . She completed year 12 at Harristown State High School in 2008 and currently holds a Certificate II in Business Administration and Certificates I & II in Computing. Her interests include Swimming and Tennis. Terri-Ann has worked in law firms for the past two years and joined ReesLaw in July 2011 as our receptionist. |
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Taleena Myers Taleena is the eldest of three children and has lived in Toowoomba all her life. She is currently studying a Certificate IV in Business administration. After graduating from Toowoomba State High School in 2011 with an OP of 4 Taleena joined ReesLaw full time and plans to develop her skills as a para-legal assisting Sandra in our Family Law section and also assisting in general office administration. |
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