JP Awards

It may surprise people to know the amount of paperwork that comes before Justices of the Peace in the area.

In the past 12 months JPs in the Hills Shire NSW Justices Association have signed 26,800 documents.

Nine members were honoured in State Parliament last week by Castle Hill MP March Hodges, each one for serving over 50 years service as JPs in the Hills community.

Noel Love Daniel O’Dea, Cecil Fisher, Doug McClymont, Ross Page Brian Pusep, Terry Manderson, John Maker and Valerie Evans were named.

Mr Hodges said: JPs provide an essential service including witnessing a person making a statutory declaration or affidavit and certifying copies of documents.

“Our community relies on the service provided by Justices of the Peace for many many aspects of our lives including applying for passports, witnessing documents for court proceedings or opening a bank account.

“I am pleased to acknowledge and honor the service of those who have achieved 50 years of service. I extend my deepest congratulations to those who have achieved 50 years service and to all Justices across the State.”.

At a morning tea the JPs were also congratulated by Federal MP for Mitchel Alex Hawke and Hills Shire Mayor Peter Gangemi for their long service as volunteers.

Brian Pusep, who first became a JP in 1963, said there was definitely a need for more people to volunteer as JPs.

Terry Manderson said he took on the role as a JP to help people.

Cecil Fisher said while he had been abused by people for refusing to witness documents he felt were not legitimate he found his 50 years of service as a JP had been “enriching”.

Ian Gilbertson, vice president of the Cumberland Branch of the NSW Justices Association which includes the Hills Area, said JPs were always needed.

Locally JPs are available to sign documents at these drop-in spots:

• Castle Hill Library Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am to 1pm and on Wednesdays 5pm to 7pm.
• Vinegar Hill Memorial Library Rouse Hill on Thursdays 5pm to 7pm.
• Hills Shire Council Administrative Offices Monday, Wednesday and Fridays 11am to 2pm.
• Grove Square Shopping Centre 9.30am to 11.30am on Saturdays.
• North Rocks Shopping Centre 10am to 12pm noon on Saturdays.
• Windsor Central Library Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10am to 12pm noon.

To locate a local JP Google Find a JP on Google. To find a JP near you and organise an appointment google Find a JP.

There are more than 5000 members of the NSW Justices’ Association in NSW. The titles Justice of the Peace was established in England over 600 years ago.

You can find out more about being a Justice of the Peace through the Service NSW website service.nsw.gov.au