VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 4 • SUMMER 2014
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE 2 BOARD of DIRECTORS,
Company Information
3 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
NEWS IN BRIEF
5 ADDRESS BY CHIEF JUSTICE HON. TIM CARMODY
2014 STATE CONFERENCE - A GREAT SUCCESS The QJA State Conference, held this year at the Redlands Sporting Club, Wellington Point, was once again a very successful event, attracting more than 180 delegates. A full report on the Conference is included on pages 6-7. The 2014 Conference was also successful in attracting high profile representatives from Local Government, State Parliament, State Cabinet and the Judiciary. To open Conference proceedings, attendees were addressed by the Redland City Mayor, Cr Karen Williams, three local members of State Parliament (Dr Mark Robinson MLA, Mr Steve Davies MLA and Mr Peter Dowling MLA), State Attorney-General, the Hon. Jarrod Bleijie MLA and the Chief Justice of Queensland and QJA Patron, Hon. Tim Carmody (presentation reproduced on page 5). Pictured at Conference L to R are: Dr Mark Robinson MLA, State Attorney-General Hon. Jarrod Bleijie MLA, Chief Justice Hon. Tim Carmody. QJA Senior Vice President Ray Burrows, QJA Redlands Branch Chairman Ian Hawes and QJA President Keith Revell.
6 2014 STATE CONFERENCE REPORT 8 ADDRESS BY JUSTICE DAVID THOMAS 10 2014 AGM -PRESIDENT’S REPORT & MINUTES 12 TRIBUTE TO BOB PILKINGTON 13 ROLL OF HONOUR 14 Q&A 15 REGIONAL ROUNDUP VALE 16 REGIONAL CONTACTS
Helpful Phone Numbers
INSERTS NOTICE OF EGM & PROXY FORM
QCAT PRESIDENT SATISFIED WITH JP TRIAL In early October 2014, QJA hosted the annual conference of the Australasian Council of Justices’ Associations (ACJA), attracting delegates from all the Australian States and Territories and New Zealand. At the Conference Dinner on Saturday 4th October, delegates were treated to a wonderful presentation by Justice David Thomas, President of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT). In his speech (reproduced in full on pages 8-9), Justice Thomas outlined his satisfaction with the success achieved thus far in the ongoing QCAT trial of using JPs as small claims adjudicators.
EGM (EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING) CALLED As explained in detail in the insert to this issue of the Journal, the QJA Board has resolved to call an Extraordinary General Meeting at 5pm on Monday 26 January 2015. The purpose of this meeting is to consider a proposed change to the QJA Constitution to allow the acceptance of member votes in either electronic or postal format. Under the current wording of the Constitution, postal votes only are allowable.
FAREWELL & THANK YOU - BOB PILKINGTON After fourteen years as a QJA Director (including four as President and six as Vice President), Bob Pilkington has decided to call it a day. Tributes to Bob’s achievements with the QJA Board are included in the President’s Report (page 3) and a special article on page 12.
Serving Queensland’s Honorary Justices since 1918