Mr Jack Rae OAM JP(Retired) FRVAHJ
Region: Northern (Melb.) Branch
Appointed JP: 30 September 1969
Retired: December 2017
My Story
Jack Rae was appointed as a Justice of the Peace on 30th September 1969.
His JP Number was 5677. He joined the Association on 11th December 1969.
In his early days of service he attended the courthouse at Berwick with people like the late Norman Beaumont and Jack’s father the late George Rae MBE, serving time or as he recalls “sitting on the bench”!
Jack was a member of the state committee of honorary justices for ten years, regularly attending monthly meetings. He was made a life member of the RVAHJ in 1991 and became a Fellow of the Association on 16th February 2017. He retired as an active JP in 2017.
Jack would regularly have people come to his house in Narre Warren North to have papers signed. In the early days you just signed your name, there was no rubber stamp. if Jack was not home to sign, his father in law Cyril Kirkland JP, who lived with Jack and his wife Mary, would witness papers.
Serving the community as a JP was a family affair. Jack, his father George, his brother Bert, father in law Cyril and brother in law Bob, all gave their time to the justices’ association.
Jack’s Late wife Paula also served as a JP and was very active as a member of her local document Signing Station.
In 1962 Jack was on the inaugural committee of the Victorian Agricultural Societies Association, at this time he represented the Dandenong Agricultural and Pastoral Society. He served as president of the Association from 1971-73 and Joined the Council of the RASV in 1971 and was awarded life membership of VASA in 1974.
In the Queen’s Birthday honours list in 1992 in the general division, Jack was awarded the medal of the Order of Australia for “Service to Primary Industry particularly the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria”.
In early September 2020 Jack announced his retirement from the RASV Heritage Committee, formally ending his roles on numerous Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria and Royal Melbourne Show Committees in a volunteering capacity that extends beyond 70 years. During that time, he served twelve years as the ringmaster of the Royal Melbourne Show overseeing the proceedings on the main arena. He was made a Life Councillor of the RASV in 1991
Jack Weston Rae: Jack Weston Rae OAM, JP(retired) a special person who has made a difference to the lives of so many
