{"id":209835,"date":"2018-05-28T20:19:11","date_gmt":"2018-05-28T10:19:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=209835"},"modified":"2020-08-03T17:39:00","modified_gmt":"2020-08-03T07:39:00","slug":"jps-celebrate-at-shoppingworld","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/05\/28\/jps-celebrate-at-shoppingworld\/","title":{"rendered":"JPs Celebrate At Shoppingworld"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Kingaroy<\/a>
Some of the volunteers who man a special “JP desk” at Kingaroy Shoppingworld between Big W and the post office every Monday to Friday, providing their services free of charge to the community, with Kingaroy’s Clerk Of The Court Ben Madden (at rear, centre)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 28, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of the South Burnett’s most dedicated JPs celebrated National Volunteer Week with a morning tea in Kingaroy last Thursday.<\/p>\n

For a number of the volunteers who man a “JP Desk” between Big W and Australia Post at Kingaroy Shoppingworld, it was the first time they had had the opportunity to meet other JPs sharing the workload.<\/p>\n

The group are a subset of more than 190 Justices of the Peace (JPs) and Commissioners for Declarations (Cdecs) registered in Kingaroy with the Department of Justice.<\/p>\n

JPs and CDecs handle important documents that can have a significant impact on someone\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

They must be properly trained and qualified to provide professional services in all situations, and are required to adhere to a strict code of conduct that calls on them to be fair, impartial and available to serve the public at any time.<\/p>\n

In Kingaroy, the “JP In The Community Program” provides a JP signing service at Kingaroy Shoppingworld every Monday to Friday between noon and 2:00pm, as well as providing an after-hours service where necessary.<\/p>\n

The JP \u201cdesk\u201d is supported by Shoppingworld’s Centre Management.<\/p>\n

Its oldest member is Errol Young, who has been a JP for more than 50 years.<\/p>\n

To ensure the desk operates 52 weeks a year, many of the JPs who man it work to a roster organised by the group’s chairwoman Marian Petersen, who liaises with Kingaroy Court House’s Clerk of the Court, Ben Madden.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marian said being signed on as a Justice Of The Peace used to be a lifetime role.<\/p>\n

But it now seems likely that at some point in the future, JPs may need to reapply every five years to keep their registration current.<\/p>\n

They could also be required to show they have undertaken ongoing professional training to keep up with new legislation, and could lose their status if they haven’t.<\/p>\n

“Some people take on a JP role because it looks good on their business card or they want some letters after their name,” Marian said.<\/p>\n

“But doing it properly involves a lot of volunteer work, and if people aren’t willing to do that they shouldn’t apply to be a JP.”<\/p>\n

Marian said the group took particular care to ensure their desk was manned when Kingaroy Magistrates Court was in session.<\/p>\n

This is a time when many people require the services of a JP to witness documents, such as statutory declarations, which they will later tender in court.<\/p>\n