OUT AND ABOUT

OUT AND ABOUT: PRESIDENT GOES NORTH

During August, the current QJA President, John Carpendale, whose term of office expires at the 6 November 2021 Annual General Meeting, undertook a trip to meet with regionally-based branch committees and members.

For the week commencing Monday 2nd August, meetings were scheduled at Kingaroy, Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Gladstone and Emerald; however, the South East Queensland COVID-19 lockdown prevented the President from leaving home for that entire week. Disappointingly, it was necessary to cancel those meetings.

As the lockdown was lifted at 4pm on Sunday 8 August, John departed Brisbane and flew to Rockhampton the next morning so that the commitments made for the week commencing 9th August could be honoured. This involved attending three Branch meetings and three informal gatherings at centres where QJA Branches used to exist. • QJA’s strategic direction and the important role performed by Branches; • Acquiring an understanding of the needs and expectations of regionally-based members • Answering questions on general QJA and JP matters

While present at various QJA branch meetings during this week, the President presented QJA Appreciation Awards to those Branch Committee members who had served for at least five years.

ROCKHAMPTON

A meeting was held at the Rockhampton Leagues Club Board Room (see photo below) at 5:30pm on Monday 9 August. While in Rockhampton, the President also met separately with QJA Life Member and former QJA Director, Raymond Young OAM and recently-elected QJA Rockhampton Branch Deputy Chairman (and Acting Secretary), Len Herron.

The topics discussed at the gatherings attended by the President on this regional trip included: • Understanding the different roles performed by

QJA and the JP Branch, DJAG, and the way in which the two organisations work cooperatively; • Understanding and utilising the benefits and value of QJA membership; At this meeting, some attendees expressed confusion and uncertainty about the difference between their QJA membership number and their official JP/CDec registration number as issued by the Queensland Government. This matter is discussed and explained on page 26.

On Tuesday 10th August, the Mackay Branch meeting was conducted at The Centre meeting room, Wellington Street, starting at 6:30pm.

An issue of animated discussion at this meeting was some local uncertainty and confusion about the appropriate way to handle a Land Title Mortgage which contains no Real Property Description (Lot and Plan number etc.). It seems the source of the uncertainty was a communication the Branch had received from Titles Queensland concerning a related, but somewhat different, topic.

After discussing the essence of the matter, all parties agreed that a witnessing officer must decline to process a Land Title Mortgage form where the Lot and Plan description field is blank, as this information is needed to verify the client’s interest in the mortgaged property and entitlement to sign (as required by section 162 of the Land Title Act 1994).

Proudly displaying their Branch Service Appreciation Certificates in the company of the QJA President are Devon Flor, Lisa Chapman. Laura Jorgensen (Treasurer). Maria Valena (Secretary) and Carmelo Pasquale (Chairman). Also present at the meeting were Bill Goodchild (seated) and John Palmer (taking the photo).

TOWNSVILLE

At 6pm on Thursday 12th August at the Common Ground Church hall, Vincent, the President attended a meeting of the QJA Townsville Branch. Earlier that afternoon, the President had attended a separate meeting with local Branch Chairman, Karl McKenzie, and Branch committee member, Andrea Reynolds, to discuss initiatives under consideration to invigorate the operation of the branch in this region

Attendees at the Townsville Branch meeting were particularly interested to discuss matters associated with using the QJA eLogbook and eligibility for admission to the QJA Member Accreditation Program.

BOWEN, CAIRNS & MAREEBA

Not so many years ago, QJA Branches operated in these centres, each of which continues to be the home of a healthy cluster of QJA members, many of whom have fond recollections of the opportunities for peer networking and local professional development sessions organised by those former branches.

As part of the abbreviated trip to Central and North Queensland, the President visited each of these towns, to thank those who were previously involved with Branch activities and to acquire an understanding of the needs and expectations of those QJA members who reside in places where there is no local QJA Branch to support them.

At Bowen, a mid-afternoon meeting was arranged at the Larrikin Hotel on Wednesday 11th August. Attendees included Ron Williams (involved with the former branch committee) and Brian Byrne from Bowen and Gayle Bailey who travelled from Proserpine.

For Cairns, a 5:30pm meeting was scheduled at the South Cairns Sports Club, Bentley Park. Although ten acceptances were initially received, the local COVID lockdown earlier in the week generated a degree of uncertainty and several apologies. In the end, only Ralph Powell (a member of the former branch committee), Tim Bentley and Joel Hemery attended. Again these members provided valuable insights into needs and expectations of QJA members who reside where there is no local QJA organising committee.

At Mareeba on Saturday 14th August, a morning tea meeting was convened at the Heritage Centre Coffee House. Attendees included Mike Dwyer (chairman of the former branch), Keith Courte, Jill Spackman, Lysle Emmit (from Tolga) and Terry Ann Cranwell (from Atherton). Their input added to the information gathered about what QJA might need to do to better support those of our members who live away from those major population centres that are able to sustain a QJA branch structure.