THE Coffs Coast Justice of the Peace (JP) Association has opened a new community desk at the Coffs Harbour Courthouse – its thirteenth between Yamba and Nambucca Heads.
The desk will be run by Terry Tweedie, who has over 45 years’ experience as a JP.
Closed five years ago during COVID, the reopened desk will operate every Friday between 9am – 12pm.
Mr Tweedie is looking forward to this new opportunity and admits a passion for the post.
“I am hopefully going to be able to sign heaps of documents to help the community of Coffs Harbour but also to help the Coffs Harbour District Courthouse.
“Last year we signed something like 17,700 documents which was a record for our branch,” he told News Of The Area.
“I originally was asked in 1980 by a friend of mine if I would like to become a JP and I said yes.
“He then nominated me to the State Member of Parliament Matt Singleton, and I filled out all the paperwork and it was sent away and seven months later I received a letter from Mr Singleton confirming I had been accepted.
“I was then sworn in by placing my hand on the Bible with the local Magistrate at the old courthouse in Moonee Street.”
When Mr Tweedie retired, he was looking for something to do.
“That’s when I took on a community desk at Park Beach Plaza.”
Some of the memorable moments are just meeting people you have never met before and assisting them by signing their documents, Mr Tweedie said.
“I never realised that these people are locals, travellers, interstate, and culturally diverse people that live here or are going to university at SCU.
“We have had people from Asia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Middle east, Africa and South Africa and a lot of European countries, US, Canada, N.Z. and South Pacific Islands that are living in our community.
“I just like talking to people, just ask all the JPs I work with.”
Local to Coffs Harbour there are JP desks at Park Beach Plaza, Coffs Central, Coffs Harbour Library, Moonee Shopping Centre, Woolgoolga Library, Toormina Shopping Centre, Dorrigo Library, Nambucca Library, Yamba Library and the Coffs Harbour Court House.
By Andrea FERRARI
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
