This article is reprinted with the permission of The Australian newspaper. It was published on Wednesday 6 February 2019.

With the numbers of Justices of the Peace (JPs) being commissioned in Western Australia dwindling, UWA graduates are urged to broaden their community service and volunteering experience by becoming a JP.

UWA graduate Malcolm Collier JP – who is Registrar of the Royal Association of Justices of Western Australia – said that, since January 2018, there had only been 55 JPs commissioned in WA.

“This barely covers the loss of JPs caused by change of personal circumstances, age and infirmity,” Mr Collier said.

Warden of Convocation Doug McGhie successfully completed the Ride to Conquer Cancer in early October. Each day saw the 800 plus cyclists pedalling into stiff sea breezes, and on Sunday into 70 km/h headwinds along the Warnbro Sound coast.

The Saturday evening in Mandurah was special as the head of the Harry Perkins Institute, Professor Peter Leedman, introduced top fundraisers and some particularly brave and inspirational cyclists, some of who were completing the challenge for their seventh time.

A student who joined the University Dramatic Society (UDS) soon after arriving at The University of Western Australia has gone on to win Convocation’s highest honour for her long service and huge contribution to the theatre.