Two Maitland Justices of the Peace who have each given 50 years of service to the community were honoured this week during a special ceremony at NSW Parliament House.
Ted Thornburrow, of Bolwarra Heights, and Trevor Crouch, of Rutherford, were greeted by Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison and presented with commemorative certificates by Attorney General the Hon Mark Speakman MP during the function.
“Justices of the Peace provide important services to our community,” Ms Aitchison said. “They are appointed by the Governor of NSW and perform their services as honest, trusted and careful volunteers under oath.
“JPs are often there at the most significant times of our lives. It is an honourable calling.”
Mr Crouch said that community spirit led him to first become a Justice of the Peace and in his 50 years of service he’d met people from all walks of life.
“Passports, people buying houses, divorces – it’s been very interesting,” Mr Crouch said.
Mr Thornburrow first became a Justice of the Peace to meet his employer’s requirements.
“I scored a job at the Royal North Shore Hospital,” he recalled. “The heads of department all had to be JPs so everybody had access to one.”
Throughout the years, more people sought his services after hearing about him via word of mouth or looking him up on the JP Register.
“I’ve made quite a few friends through it,” he said.
The primary functions of NSW Justices of the Peace are witnessing statutory declarations; witnessing affadavits; and certifying that copies of original documents are true and accurate.
NSW JPs have the authority to exercise functions conferred by, or under, the Oaths Act 1900 (NSW) and other NSW Acts.
Anyone interested in becoming a Justice of the Peace can visit www.jp.nsw.gov.au
