VALE KEVIN MASON

Amongst the Legal Fraternity Kevin was known as Maximus Mason, because as a Magistrate he was fair but harsh. If you were found guilty you got the maximum penalty. Even so, he was known for his strong morals, he was a respected friend, a true family man, calm, capable and kind. He was a good listener and a great raconteur. In his eulogy his son Peter said that “ He was ahead of his time.”

There have now been four generations of the Mason family in the law. Kevin’s father was a Police Superintendent, then Kevin as a Clerk of the Courts, a Magistrate and a Coroner, his son is a Lawyer, one Grandson has been admitted to practice in the US in the States of Virginia and Washington, the other Grandson is a Highway Patrol Policeman.

Kevin grew up in a family which moved around country Victoria and suburban Melbourne. He attended University High School. Professionally he was 70 years in the law plus on retirement he was reappointed to the bench as a Reserve Magistrate.

Throughout his working life he was also a fantastic administrator including being the President of the local tennis club although he did not play tennis, the President of the Parents Association at his children’s School, a Master at the Preston Freemasons Lodge, President of the Amateur Victorian Football Tribunal, President of the Frankston Apex Club, Kevin was also on the board of the Epworth Hospital , President of the Doncaster Probus Club, Chairman of the Police Disciplinary Board, and when he and his wife Shirley moved into the Domaine Retirement Village he became Chairman of the Residents Committee. He was still acting as a Justice of the Peace a month before he died.

It was said that he was not good at sport, the exception being lawn bowls, but he always loved to watch and support his children and grandchildren playing their chosen game.

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Ian Golding wrote these words for our Club members.

Some little known facts about Kevin……

He broke Alan Aylett’s nose.

When travelling he loved checking out country courthouses.

He developed a judicial cough which he used just as he began to pass sentence.

He has held the Melbourne Cup.

He has had his treasured special car number plate KGM 111 since the late 1960’s.

In 1967 he was the organiser at the Frankston Police Station’s children’s Christmas party when all the Police on duty suddenly disappeared because Harold Holt had gone missing. Yes he made sure that the Christmas party went on , all the children received Santa’s gift.

VALE to a man who always dispensed very sage advice.

Lyn Goodman.