Wednesday, 9 March 2022

Graham Proctor and Dirk Sauer

Mr McGHIE (Melton) (09:53): I rise to highlight some quiet achievers in our community. Over our lives we occasionally need to call on someone to sight and verify an important document or to help us through a prickly situation. Usually we seek the services of a local justice of the peace or bail justice, and in Melton, among a few, there are two such individuals I wish to highlight, both of whom have retired from their respective roles for their own personal reasons.

Mr Graham Proctor has been a JP for some 30 years. As his health fails him, he has now found the task a little too much for him to manage, and after many years of service to others it is now time for him to take some time for himself. I want to take a moment to personally acknowledge and thank Graham for his service to the community of the Melton district.

Mr Dirk Sauer is another of our longstanding community members whose ill health has required him to step away. Dirk has provided many years of honorary service as a bail justice and justice of the peace. It would not be unusual for Dirk to be called out in the wee hours of the night to support and counsel individuals during some of their darkest times and to deal with people in distress. He would be away from home for many hours at a time while family at home worried for him.

We sometimes forget that a justice of the peace has an honorary role, with each providing a valuable community service and each expected to uphold the highest of standards at all times. They give of their time freely and enthusiastically. To both Graham and Dirk, I wish you both well with your personal health battles. I particularly commend these two local Melton community members but want to thank every person who is currently undertaking roles as an important service to our community.