Coolamon family celebrates century of service

A RENOWNED Coolamon family is celebrating providing 100 years of legal service to its local community this year.The Thompson family has run legal practices in Coolamon Shire since 1911, with third-generation lawyer, Bill Thompson the resident partner of Commins Hendriks at Coolamon.The family's association with law in Coolamon began when Bill's grandfather William Arthur moved to the town as a representative of Wagga's Higgins and Robinson law firm.William died in 1949 and his son Jim returned to Coolamon to work at the firm.He was joined by Niall Hogan and Alan Morgan and the firm became known as Thompson and Morgan.In 1976, Junee solicitor Fred Commins contacted Jim and suggested his firm and Thompson and Morgan shared a solicitor to do litigation work at their respective offices.After some years the firms joined and were known as Commins Thompson and Associates.In 1991, Commins Thompson and Associates amalgamated with long-standing Wagga firm Mortimer Hendriks Griffin and Erratt, creating Commins Hendriks.Following in his father's footsteps, Bill was made the resident partner of the Coolamon office in 1985.Bill said he enjoyed practising in the country and learnt many valuable lessons from his father and grandfather."My father returned home because my grandfather was dying and he felt trapped for 30 years. I am determined that my three sons will not feel obliged to take over," he said."The joys of country practice include the fact that you can make a quid and you and your children mix with people of all ages and different socioeconomic backgrounds."