By CASEY NEILL
GREATER Dandenong’s justices of the peace have received thanks from Victoria Police.
Keysborough’s Joe de Souza co-ordinates the JP roster at Springvale Police Station and was among the 20 volunteers applauded at a ceremony at Casey Civic Centre on Thursday 20 August.
Inspector Bruce Kitchen presented them with certificates recognising their sustained effort in assisting police and community members at the Springvale and Dandenong police stations between September 2001 and May this year.
Mr de Souza has been a JP for 38 years.
“I’ve only done about 460 shifts!” he laughed.
“When I came here I didn’t have a country.
“So they gave me a country and I wanted to put back into it.
“I retired 21 years ago but I haven’t been bored for one day.
“My wife says I work harder now than when I was at work.”
He said the JP service had been active at Springvale since 2007.
“To date we have signed a couple of hundred thousand documents,” he said.
“We average around 80,000 documents a year.
“We don’t look for recognition but it’s nice to be appreciated.
“I get that satisfaction out of being able to help people.
“I’ve got the best bunch of people at Springvale.”
