David Steele retires

Lawyer and past president of the Central Coast Law Society, Mr David Steele, has retired from practice and from Peninsula Law on June 30.

David's retirement comes after some 27 years of private practice as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, 25 years of which has been spent serving the people of the Central Coast.

David graduated from Sydney University Law School with a Bachelor of Laws in 1976 and was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales on August 12, 1976.

He worked initially at Bowral and then moved to the Central Coast in 1978 to take up a position as an employed solicitor with Robert L Ferry of Woy Woy.

David became a partner in Robert L Ferry & Steele, Solicitors, the next year and soon established himself as one of the leading lawyers on the Central Coast.

James Walker joined David's firm in 1988 and became a partner in the firm which became Steele & Walker Solicitors following the retirement of Bob Ferry from the practice in 1989.

Steele & Walker later merged with Bingham Turnell Corah, Solicitors, of Woy Woy on July 1, 1999, to form the firm of Peninsula Law.

David retired as CEO and as a partner on July 1 last year but remained a consultant with the firm effectively up until June 30.

Mr Alan Bingham of Peninsula Law said: "His experience in commercial, land and environment, conveyancing and retirement village law was second to none.

"David's record of service to his vast legion of clients and to the people of the Central Coast is exemplary.

"He played Rugby Union for the Woy Woy Rugby Club and the Central Coast representative team for many years; too many years, some may say.

"He has been involved, over a period of almost three decades, in the sporting, business and charitable life of the Central Coast.

"He was a touch footballer, basketball and squash player of note.

"David, in recent years, developed a passion for yachting and sailed around the South Pacific for some seven months in 2001, covering literally thousands of nautical miles in all conditions (which was) no mean feat.

"David's contribution to the law, to the firm of Peninsula Law and to the people of the Central Coast will be sorely missed.

"We hope that the members of the Central Coast Law Society will join with his former partners and staff of Peninsula Law in wishing David all the very best in his retirement and fair sailing into the future," Mr Bingham said.

Letter, June 26