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Following her admission to the Bar in June 1956, Juliet left Australia for a three-year extended working holiday in
England and Europe. She worked as a teacher and British Broadcasting Commission researcher in England during
the holiday.
Upon her return to Australia, she commenced work as a Parliamentary Draftsman for the Commonwealth
in Canberra. At the time of her marriage to John William Shields in Canberra on 12 December 1959, she was
described as ‘Canberra’s only woman Barrister’. The couple moved to Darwin in 1961 where a son, Alastair John,
was born on 17 October 1963. Prior to his birth, Juliet worked for a time with Ron Withnall, then Crown Law
Officer while John, a geologist, commenced work with the Darwin Uranium Group.
A keen amateur actress, Juliet was active in a number of productions of the Darwin Theatre Group in the 1960s
and early 1970s. A Northern Territory News critic observed of one performance: ‘Juliet Shields’ performance
confirmed what all regular Darwin playgoers already know—that she is an extremely competent actress who
becomes completely absorbed in her role.’ A play produced by Juliet won first prize and two special prizes at the
1967 Eisteddfod in Darwin.
After a long break from the fulltime work force, Juliet joined the Northern Territory Administration of the
Commonwealth Public service in 1974, initially as a clerk. When her legal qualifications were discovered,
Juliet transferred to the conveyancing section of Crown Law. She quickly became one of the first female section
heads in that Department. Following self-government in 1978, Juliet transferred to the newly established Northern
Territory Department of Law, where she was responsible for the Commercial Division. At various periods throughout
her public service career, Juliet carried out the functions of the Crown Conveyancer and acting Registrar-General.
Juliet was a member of the Agents Licensing Board of the Northern Territory from its establishment in 1979,
and she served as Chairman from 1985 to 1988. During the difficult first few years following the Board’s creation,
she contributed to the establishment of the credibility of the newly created system of registration for real estate
agents. As Crown Conveyancer, Juliet was the key adviser to the government on land dealings. As head of
Crown law’s Commercial section, she was responsible for handling many of the government’s major commercial
transactions, including those dealing with the Beaufort Hotel, the Darwin Performing Arts Centre and the Cullen
Bay Marina. Other significant projects that Juliet was also involved with include the 32 square mile acquisition
area, the acquisition of the Sheraton Hotel at Ayers Rock, the construction of the casino in Darwin, the Strehlow
collection and the gas pipeline. In 1992, she held the position of Crown Counsel.
Juliet, John and Alastair were in their house at Fannie Bay when Cyclone Tracy struck in 1974. Although the
house was badly damaged, it was habitable, and both Juliet and John remained in Darwin to assist with the clean
up. Alastair was evacuated soon after the cyclone, while both John and Juliet returned to work. Following the
cyclone, Juliet was responsible for buying land from residents who wished to leave Darwin.
Juliet was also involved with various community groups. She provided advice to the Australian Bicentennial
Authority in the Territory, and she served as a committee member of the Darwin Branch and on the Council of
the National Trust of Australia (Northern Territory). She was a keen dressmaker, and she sewed most of her own
clothes. She had an extensive collection of antique Victorian coloured glass.
Juliet died at home in Stuart Park in the company of her husband and son on 11 March 1992. Despite her
enthusiasm for her work and acting, her main love was her family and her role as a mother and housewife. She was
also proud to be a Territorian, and of the fact that she and John had arrived for a planned two year stint in 1961,
fell in love with Darwin, and made it their permanent home.
During the tributes paid to her in the Northern Territory Parliament Attorney General, Daryl Manzie, said of
her, ‘Juliet Shields ranked variously as the most senior female lawyer and the most senior female public servant
in the Northern Territory Public Service and was undoubtedly the Territory’s leading expert on Crown land law
as well as one of the most experienced commercial solicitors in the Territory’. Another obituary prepared by a
colleague emphasised Juliet’s deep and ethical commitment to Torrens principles. He concluded that, above all,
she would be remembered for her ethics as a lawyer and said ‘it can only be hoped that her ethical commitment
will be passed on through the many young lawyers, students and articled clerks who spent periods of time under
her tutelage and who now occupy positions of influence in many Government Offices, judicial offices and legal
firms in the Territory and beyond’.
Family records; Northern Territory Parliamentary Record, 19 & 20 May 1992.
JOHN and ALASTAIR SHIELDS, Vol 3.SHU ACK CHAN FONG: see FONG, NELLIESIMON, ZOLTAN ARPAD MARTON (ZOT) (1946– ), Army officer and second Officer Commanding the
7th Independent Rifle Company (7IRC) was born in Austria on 15 April 1946. He graduated from Duntroon on
11 December 1968 and was first posted to 2nd Squadron of the Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment, transferring
to the 1st SAS Squadron later the following year. He saw active service in South Vietnam as a Troop Commander
in the 1st SAS Squadron from February 1970 to February 1971, leading patrols in Phuoc Tuy and Long Khanh
Provinces. He was wounded-in-action (shrapnel wound to the head) in July 1970, and was Mentioned-in-Despatches
for his efforts as a patrol commander during 1970.
A decade later Simon was selected as a successor to Major Alan Pike as Officer Commanding the 7th Independent
Rifle Company in the Northern Territory from 10 January to 30 June 1981. During his short period of command,
he laid the groundwork and paved the way for its smooth transition into a surveillance regiment. The momentum
with patrolling and survival exercises was maintained and there continued to be much liaison with Aboriginal