NSW Attorney General and Minister for Justice Brad Hazzard has congratulated an Illawong justice of the peace for serving the community for more than 50 years.
Ken Bond became a JP at 22.
"I was recommended to become a JP and I thought why not," Mr Bond said.
"I was volunteering in many things at the time such as surf lifesaving and the bushfire brigade, and it was just the sort of thing that I liked doing."
Mr Bond said he was living in a small close-knit community when he became a JP.
"It was never carrying any burden for me," Mr Bond said.
"I was a school principal for 30 years and people would come in and ask if I could witness their signatures."
His main role was to witness signatures for legal documents such as passports.
"Some people from overseas who wanted me to witness their signatures would ask me how much they owed me," he said.
"They did not realise that my job was a voluntary one."
Raymond Jefferies, 76, of Chipping Norton received a certificate from Mr Hazzard.
"It was nice to have been acknowledged just for doing humble things," he said.
"I am a firm believer of giving a little back where you can."
To find a JP: jp.nsw.gov.au
