Earlier this month, on May 6, he celebrated 60 years since becoming a qualified solicitor.
And next year will mark 60 years since becoming a partner in Deniliquin firm Francis Kelly and Grant.
It’s been a journey littered with challenges and successes, which David said is far from over yet.
“I have no plans to retire until required by bad health or cognitive decline,” he said.
“I’m very lucky to have found Deniliquin; my wife Prue and I think it’s a lovely place with lovely people.
“I came to Deni in August 1965 to work with Frank Kelly - a then 62 year old solicitor. I initially thought, ‘this guy hasn’t long to go’, and he was still there at 82.
“I became partner in new firm Francis Kelly and Grant in 1967, which practised at 185 Cressy St, Deniliquin until severely damaged by an arson attack in 1982.
“The firm then moved to its present location at 144 End St. It was a very stimulating time.”
David also had to overcome some personal challenges throughout his career, including a near fatal incident after almost 30 years working in Deniliquin.
“We were on a small holiday when I drowned at Hamilton Island in 1994,” he said.
“I recovered and continued in practice.”
This was just another example of resilience for David, who was born in England during World War II and had to adapt to life in a new country when his family immigrated to Australia.
“I was born December 1943 in London, after the Bliz, but in time for the V1 and V2 rocket attacks of the summer of 1944.
“Like many Londoners, we lived in poverty for the first nine years of my life. I played in bomb craters with the other kids in the council flats.
“We then spent four years in Suffolk before I immigrated to Australia with my parents and family in late 1956. It was part of the assisted passage, ten pound Pom scheme, but I didn’t pay because I was under 16.
“In Orange, NSW we lived in Nissan huts for the first three months.
“Dad had a job on the handles' production line at the Emco (whitegoods) factory, and mum was cleaning houses.”
David’s first ever paid job was selling advertising space for Central Western Daily after school, until he left Orange High School in 1960. He then entered the law.
“I was an article clerk with an Orange legal firm in January 1961, two weeks after my 17th birthday, and studied law by correspondence at night.
“There was no free uni or even HECS in 1960.
“My wage is four pounds 10, tax was two shillings and rent was three pounds, three shillings, which meant there was only a bit left over for food and nothing for drinks. I was 50kg when qualified as a solicitor.”
15°C