July 12, 2013
Yarraman resident Jim Bond has been working within the law for more than 40 years … and now he has a certificate to prove it.
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington presented Jim with a certificate of thanks recently in Kingaroy to mark his 40 years of service as a JP.
Jim told southburnett.com.au that he was Airport Manager at Mt Isa in 1973 when he approached by the late Bob Katter Snr to become a JP.
“He said that there were more JPs needed in Mt Isa,” Jim said.
“I was sworn in at the Magistrates Court. My duties were mainly looking after several hundred workers at the airport, stat decs, witnessing documents, certifying copies of documents etc.
“I was transferred to Manager of Cairns Airport in 1976. It was a similar type of work for a JP but with much bigger staff numbers.”
Over the years, he has taken courses, attended conferences and seminars and along the way his qualification was upgraded to “JP Qualified”.
This meant more responsibilities, including issuing search warrants for drugs and firearms.
Jim said that when he came to Yarraman he discovered there were not many active JP Qualified personnel in the area.
“For some years now I have been assisting the police from the four stations in the area … Yarraman, Blackbutt, Cooyar and Peranga,” he said.
He also acts as a “friend of the court” and sits in when juvenile offenders are being questioned by police and the juvenile is not able to be accompanied by a parent / guardian or solicitor.
[Photo: Nanango Electorate Office]
