Chris Mills OAM RFD, Principal Solicitor

Chris was born in North Sydney, New South Wales in 1947 and raised as the only child of a service station proprietor. He completed his High School education at Sydney Grammar School in 1964 attaining a Teacher’s College Scholarship, which he did not take up as he commenced employment as an articled clerk with a firm of Chartered Accountants.

In 1966, in the midst of the Vietnam War, Chris joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Seaman Midshipman. Highlights of his service as a seaman, hydrographic and diving officer were command of ships, overseas postings and visiting countries throughout the Pacific, Asia and the Middle East, including active duty in Vietnam. He spent his twenty-first birthday at sea off Vietnam and was at one time the first RAN officer to have served on duty on the Golan Heights in Israel.

After serving in the Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea, Chris served as relief Commanding Officer and Sailing Master of the STS Young Endeavour. On completion he was posted to Canberra before resigning from full time service in 1992.

He migrated with Nerolie to Townsville in their boat, “Leerunna”, and, after owner building their home at Rowes Bay, Chris commenced work at Ferry Real Estate, Hermit Park as the Property/Administration/Post Office Manager. He was also an active Navy Reserve Lieutenant Commander whose duties included being the RAN Liaison Officer for 11 Brigade in Townsville.

Chris ceased at Ferry’s in 1995 and commenced reading law at James Cook University. He graduated in 2000, and after completing his legal practice course at the NSW College of Law was admitted as a solicitor in NSW and Queensland in that year.

After a period of employment with the ACCC, Chris also commenced employment in 2000 as the Consumer Rights Solicitor at Townsville Community Legal Service. In 2001 Chris passed the QLS Practice Management Course with Distinction before going into private practice as a sole practitioner in July 2002. Chris also retired from the RANR in 2002 after 35 years of full time and reserve service.

Chris maintains a close volunteer relationship with veterans and their families, having been Secretary, Treasurer and Public Officer for the Veterans Support Centre NQ Inc for over 20 years. He was recognised for his contribution to the community of Townsville by being awarded the OAM and Townsville Citizen of the Year in 2013.

While in recent years his law practice has concentrated on Conveyancing only, Chris and Nerolie, who is a CPA, are moving into preparation of Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Probate and Estate Management as their experience has found that there is a need for affordable, no frills and efficient service in this area.

Nerolie Mills JP(Q), Accountant

Born in country New South Wales, Nerolie attended Sydney University completing a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Pure Mathematics and Chemistry. After completing a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Teaching she become one of the founding teachers at Model Farms High School in the Sydney suburb of Winston Hills.

After teaching Mathematics and Science for four years she travelled the world in one year. Nerolie visited the US, Britain, Scandinavia, Europe, Japan and Singapore which greatly broadened her horizons.

Further education followed with the completion of a Graduate Diploma in Secretarial Studies at Canberra University. Eight years were then spent in administrative and management positions in four Canberra organisations, including an Accountant’s office.

Joining her future husband, Chris, a year was spent in Papua New Guinea working at the Japanese Embassy and commencing her Bachelor of Commerce degree. This was completed at the Australian National University, in Canberra, while teaching small business management part time at Canberra TAFE.

After motoring up the coast in their boat, “Leerunna”, Nerolie then worked with the Northern Regional Health Authority gaining the necessary experience and completing the required further education to become a Certified Practising Accountant in August 1995. Again following further experience in the taxation field Nerolie became a Registered Tax Agent in November 1996 and commenced practice on a part time basis.

In May 2000 Nerolie purchased another small tax agent’s business enabling her to expand her practice and work on a full time basis as an accountant, auditor and tax agent. Her office, at Rowes Bay, was renovated after Cyclone Tessi and the practice continued to grow by word of mouth referral from satisfied clients.

In 2008, following some health issues, Nerolie sold her Tax Agent Practice and continued to work only in the auditing field. Nerolie’s practice is founded upon the commitment to providing personalized service at a reasonable rate as an auditor of incorporated associations and trust accounts.

In 2019 Nerolie moved her office to 6 Cooper Street, Currajong to continue her auditing work and also to provide administrative services to Townsville Mobile Solicitor as the legal practice experienced significant growth.

Nerolie is a Justice of the Peace (Qualified) and is available to witness documents when required.